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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

RDS Arena redevelopment plans for Leinster Rugby's home submitted to Dublin City Council

The RDS has submitted an application to Dublin City Council for a major redevelopment of Leinster Rugby's Arena home.

The cost of the project is expected to be €50m and will be sourced from RDS funds as well as from Government support - €10m is the bank collected from the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund in 2020 - and outside backers, bringing the capacity of the venue to 21,500.

The existing Anglesea stand was built close to a century ago and it is to be demolished, along with the Anglesea Terrace.

READ MORE: RDS Arena development plans to ramp up as Leinster Rugby CEO says overall budget is in place

A 6,775-capacity new stand over three levels, plus a two-storey hospitality and services building, will be constructed in their place - as well as a club shop.

Planning permission was originally granted in 2018 but that has now lapsed, so RDS chiefs had to make a new application.

"Leinster Rugby can confirm that the RDS applied for Planning Permission for the regeneration of its Arena in June," said a spokesperson for the province.

"We look forward to supporting the RDS in achieving its ambition to create a world class multi-purpose arena for excellence in sports and entertainment."

Last October, the RDS and Leinster confirmed a new 25-year agreement for the Arena to remain as the Blues' home.

Leinster first played at the stadium in 2005 and, two years later, the first lease was signed and the stadium became the province's permanent home venue.

Speaking in February, new Leinster CEO Shane Nolan said: "It’s pretty exciting. We want to get it right, though. You don’t develop stadiums every day, so we want to make sure what we do is done right.

"All the necessary thought and rigour is going in it from the RDS and we’re meeting on a pretty regular basis. I think we should have something really exciting in the next couple of months to show.”

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