Bulldozers are set to initiate the refurbishment of Leinster’s Dublin-based RDS grounds as early as next week. Despite this, the outlook for the season remains robust, as ticket sales are thriving and attendance at both Aviva Stadium and Croke Park seems promising.
Historically, Leinster has drawn considerable crowds, setting records with full-house games against Munster in 2009 and Northampton during the previous season. The Champion’s Cup semi-final, which took place at Croke Park in May against a Premiership team, drew an audience of 82,300, setting a new European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) record. The previous record, achieved in a match against Munster, drew 82,208 spectators.
In fact, The clash against Northampton attracted the largest audience of any rugby union game last season, surpassing even the 2023 World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in the Stade de France. Seats for this encounter were all claimed within 36 hours of release.
Ticket sales for the forthcoming Leinster v Munster clash in the United Rugby Championship (URC) are already at 55,000, even before the season has commenced. Event organisers aim to surpass the 70,000 attendee mark for this game, set to be held at Croke Park on 12th October, with a steady flow of 400-500 daily ticket sales.
Leinster’s first home game of the season against Dragons is slated for next week, with the lower section of the Aviva ground, providing just under 20,000 capacity, ready for use (the middle and upper levels will not be accessible for the match).
Marcus O’Buachalla, Leinster’s media manager, expressed satisfaction with the turnout at notable past events, referencing the 82,000-strong crowd at the Northampton game held at Croke Park and the successful Aviva matches. He stressed the team’s focus on offering an appealing match-day experience and believes that such high-profile events help connect with a broader, previously untouched spectator base.
The RDS began construction preparations last week, with work anticipated to begin on the site within a fortnight. The chosen builders have been selected through a tender process, with the cost having surged since the project’s initial plans in 2014, totaling around €50 million.
The proposal envisages the teardown of the current Anglesea Stand and Anglesea Terrace, replacing them with a three-tier stand that can accommodate 6,775 spectators, as well as a two-level hospitality building. The RDS Arena boasts a capacity of 19,532 on game days, increasing by approximately 2,000 seats with the renovation.
Leinster’s ticket sales usually maintain steady, although they can often surge following team announcements on Fridays. Tickets sales for next week’s Dragons game are trending around 17,000, achieved through a combination of season tickets, exceeding 15,000, and individual sales.
The team will enjoy a morale boost as established international players rejoin the squad, adding excitement to the matches. In the upcoming season, French international Rabah Slimani and Springbok RG Snyman will inject new vitality and star appeal.
On October 26th, Leinster will host the Lions, a South African team, at the Aviva lower bowl for a URC game. Clermont, part of Leinster’s group in the Champions Cup, is set to visit Dublin on December 14th. The entire Aviva Stadium will be accessible for this Round Two confrontation.
Unfortunately, Clermont typically draws a small crowd. Leinster’s European face-off with La Rochelle, coached by Ronan O’Gara, will happen in the Stade Marcel Deflandre, this coming January.