Aviva Stadium makeover: How a team of 100 worked through the night to prepare for Ireland v NZ

Within minutes of the final whistle of the World Cup qualifier draw with Portugal, a small army of ground staff were deployed to commence preparations for Saturday’s Autumn international between Ireland and the All Blacks

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021 - 17:35

Colm O’Connor

The Republic of Ireland soccer squad were still in the dressing rooms when another crack Irish team took to the Aviva Stadium pitch on Thursday night.

Aviva Stadium Director Martin Murphy explained that approximately 100 people worked throughout Thursday night - and late into Friday afternoon - in an effort to complete the makeover.

He said: “It is very challenging turning around the stadium after a full house in such a short space of time.

“It was a massive undertaking by both our ground staff and our cleaning staff who worked through the night.

“Time is your biggest enemy in an undertaking like this. The most important thing is to have a solid plan in place and then work off that.”

Head groundskeeper Majella Smyth oversaw a series of operations on the field.

Murphy continued: “The goalposts were removed, the lines were all washed off, the rugby posts were then inserted, and the padding placed around those.

“Would you believe that the grass was cut again? All of that had to be done before 2pm on Friday ahead of the captain’s run.”

While all of that was ongoing at pitch level, busy cleaners worked their way through the sections and levels in another perfectly choreographed operation.

“A cleaning event of this magnitude is complex at the best of times but Covid adds another layer of complexity especially in terms of the toilets and the changing rooms,” said Murphy.

“It is hugely labour-intensive and heavy on manpower. Even as I speak this afternoon the cleaning operation is still ongoing.”

Despite the stress and headaches that come with such a hectic transformation, Murphy wouldn’t want it any other way given the impact of Covid restrictions on his place of work since March of last year.