Fans 'to revive Lansdowne roar' at new stadium

The old Lansdowne is gone but sporting chiefs vowed today that it will not be forgotten.

At the official opening of the revamped ground, rugby and soccer fans were challenged to revive the infamous roar at the rebranded Aviva Stadium which sweeps across Dublin’s skyline.

Sporting legends even revealed they wished they could turn back time and have a game at the spectacular new state of the art venue.

Former international footballer Ray Houghton said he would do anything to tog out – and would consider giving up his historic goal against England.

“It was a great privilege and pleasure to play for Ireland and score that goal against England, but I’d give up a lot of that to play the first game here, that’s for sure,” he said.

“It’s a world class facility and anyone who comes here will be overwhelmed. We’re gonna have some fantastic games and some fantastic memories in the future.”

The sun glistened on the newly laid pitch as the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) officially opened their new shared home on the site of Lansdowne’s hallowed turf.

It took three years to remove the much-loved ground and replace it with a €410m, 50,000 seater stadium.

The IRFU’s Philip Browne said his hunt for a new home for Irish rugby and football began in 1994 – and brought him back to the the southside of Dublin.

He hopes the world class piece of sporting infrastructure will stage the Heineken Cup final in 2013.

“It is a financial engine to drive the sport of rugby and soccer for the next 40 years,” he said.

“I’ve no concerns or qualms whatsoever about the capacity or the ability of this facility to do that for us.”

The breathtaking structure can be seen from across the city, with three high tiers towering over 3,000 seats in the ground level Havelock Square end.

FAI boss John Delany admitted he hoped the coliseum layout would intimidate visiting fans and players.

“It’s important to create an atmosphere here to intimidate teams that come here. All the players will tell you that,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be a wonderful stadium for our own supporters, one they can eventually call their own home.”

With top class facilities for fans – 650 toilets and 69 kiosks and bars serving up 1,000 pints – international players used to living in luxury will also feel at home.

The revamp, which took four million man hours and employed 6,000 people, boasts indoor grass-covered warm-up areas for both the home and away teams, a medical room with beds, a dentist chair, drug testing area and an x-ray, large dressing rooms with TV screens and a shower room with a hydrotherapy pool.

Despite a major sponsorship deal and controversial name change, Delaney vowed the atmosphere will be as good as ever.

“It’s a tight site built up, not out, so every seat you will feel like you can almost touch the player and touch the pitch,” he continued.

“That old famous Lansdowne roar will certainly be back here.”

Up to 30,000 people are expected at the first fixture at the ground between a Connacht/Munster and Leinster/Ulster rugby selection on July 31.

But a sell-out is expected when football giants Manchester United take on an Airtricity League selection on August 4, closely followed with an Irish international soccer game against Argentina.

Former goalkeeper Packie Bonner said the stadium would inspire youngsters to want to play for their country in the future.

“It’s quality, world class, inspirational and emotional, I wish I was young enough to play on it,” he said.

Ex-rugby stars Keith Wood and Reggie Corrigan also lined up to praise the stadium.

“I would love to get the opportunity to run out on that pitch,” said Corrigan.

“I would love to get the chance to wind the clock back five or six years and get the chance to do that.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who officially opened the Aviva Stadium, said sports tourism had become a major source of revenue worldwide.

“The IRFU/FAI have estimated that a minimum of five soccer and five rugby internationals a year could be worth upwards of €250m to the economy,” said Mr Cowen.

“When you factor in international events such as the Europa League Final in 2011 and a Heineken Cup final in the not too distant future, the potential is huge.”