Country Ireland Seating capacity 2,000 all seated Province Leinster | Opening 1939 Opened 1939 Phone +353 1 453 3371 | |
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Location National Stadium
145 South Circular Rd
Dublin Address 145 S Circular Rd, Merchants Quay, Dublin, Ireland Owner Irish Amateur Boxing Association Similar Aquazone, Seán O'Casey Bridge, National Basketball Arena, Singapore National Stadium, Ulster Hall | ||
National Stadium (Irish: An Staidiam Náisiúnta) or National Boxing Stadium, 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.
Contents
National Stadium was opened by Frank Aiken in 1939.
Venue
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.
Music
Historically, the stadium was used as a music venue, regularly hosting bands such as Horslips, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, U2, Van Morrison, 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.
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 an £1.3m grant under the Sports Capital Programme to undertake the refurbishment of the stadium. The two-storey building was provided with a new grey coloured limestone façade during the refurbishment.