National Stadium (Ireland)

The National Stadium (Irish: An Staid Náisiúnta) (often referred to as the National Boxing Stadium or the National Sporting Arena) which is located in Dublin, Ireland, is the only purpose built boxing stadium in the world. Built in 1939, National Stadium hosts over 55 days of boxing each year and a number of other events.

National Stadium
Exterior view of venue (c.2010)
Location within Dublin
General information
Typestadium
LocationMerchants Quay
Address145 S Circular Rd
Dublin 8
Dublin D08 HY40
Ireland
Opening1939
OwnerIABA
Other information
Seating capacity2,000
Website
Venue Website

Venue

National Stadium was opened by Frank Aiken in 1939.[1] The stadium is owned by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) and has been used by the IABA for over 60 years as the venue for their national and International contests.[2]

Music

Historically, the stadium was used as a music venue, regularly hosting bands such as Horslips,[3] Genesis, Led Zeppelin,[4] Thin Lizzy,[5]:306 U2,[6] Van Morrison,[4] and many others. On 26 February 1980, the band U2 performed a concert at this venue which was attended by executives of Island Records; at the end of the show, the label signed the band to their first recording contract.

Facilities

The venue is situated between Clanbrassil Street to the east and Dolphin's Barn to the west on the South Circular Road. The stadium stages amateur and professional boxing and professional wrestling bouts as well as providing facilities for music concerts, conferences and corporate hospitality events.[7]

Capacity

The capacity of the stadium is 2,080 for music events, which is reduced to 1,954 for boxing and wrestling events to accommodate the wrestling/boxing ring. The Ringside club seats up to 400 people for parties or sit down dining but some junior boxing events also take place here.

Refurbishment

In December 1999, the then Minister for Art, Sports and Tourism Jim McDaid, announced a £1.3m grant under the Sports Capital Programme to undertake the refurbishment of the stadium.[8][9] The two-storey building was provided with a new grey coloured limestone façade during the refurbishment.

References
  1. "Over ninety years of Irish Amateur Boxing". IABA. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  2. "Facilities at The National Stadium". National Stadium. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  3. Cunnigham, Mark (2013). Horslips: Tall Tales - The Official Biography. O'Brien Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-84717-586-1.
  4. "National Stadium review". Time Out. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  5. O'Toole, Leagues (2006). The Humours of Planxty. Ireland: Hodder Headline. ISBN 03-4083-796-9.
  6. Kootnikof, David (2010). U2: A Musical Biography. ABC-CLIO. p. 12. ISBN 9780313365232.
  7. "About The National Stadium". National Stadium. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  8. "£1.3m grant for National Boxing Stadium - McDaid". Department of Art, Sports and Tourism. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  9. "CASE STUDY 5 – NATIONAL BOXING STADIUM". Department of Art, Sports and Tourism. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2007.

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