Final touches being made to Aviva Stadium

WITH just weeks to go before the gates of Ireland’s premier football and rugby stadium reopens to the public, its developers are on the home straight putting the final important touches to the sports grounds.

The spaceship-like exterior of the Aviva Stadium looms over Dublin city. But inside, its technological set-up will be just as impressive as the glass dome set amid the skyline.

A purpose-built hi-tech security and communications “nerve centre” will give security and gardaí an oversight of nearly every angle in the new 50,000-spectator venue.

Up to 192 CCTV cameras have been positioned at “pinch points” around the 14-acre site, in areas where potential health and safety as well as security issues could arise.

Any potential problems that could flare up with security, fires, crowd control, or even intruders, will be monitored and controlled by security and gardaí through one central hub at the Lansdowne Road site.

Security firm ADT has been given responsibility for setting up and running the stadium’s safety and security systems, including the near 200 CCTV cameras. Donal Colfer, with ADT’s fire and security section, said the set-up allowed personnel to monitor every seat in the stadium, as well as problems on up to nine levels of the site, from the basement to the very top area near the dome.

“From the walk-up areas around the perimeter right to the corporate boxes, it will all be covered.”

The set-up, part of the overall €410 million cost of building the stadium, will mean operators and gardaí will be able to quickly identify potential problems or flashpoints from within the stadium’s control room.

Meanwhile, the sports ground is still buzzing with frenetic activity, with up to 950 workers on site daily.

Since the project began over four years ago, nearly 5,000 people have been employed to date on it, making it among the biggest developments in the country, next to the Corrib gas field in Mayo and the Terminal 2 building at Dublin Airport.

A number of select days over the coming weeks will see its grounds open up. But the first ball will be officially kicked on August 7, 2010, when a Leinster/Ulster rugby selection will take on Munster/Connacht. Just four days later at the grounds, the Republic of Ireland football team will take on Argentina.