Croke Park Seeks to Host Champions League Final in Dublin
Croke Park has begun promoting itself as a possible venue for a Champions League final. The stadium and commercial director, Peter McKenna, discussed the plan with Filmogaz.com.
Capacity and recent uses
The Dublin arena holds about 82,300 spectators. It is the GAA headquarters and one of Europe’s largest stadia.
The ground is not usually used for club football. It will host a Manchester United v Leeds friendly on August 12 as the first club match there.
Why Croke Park is positioning for a final
McKenna said staging the friendly would show the venue’s credentials. He believes the city and stadium can deliver the right atmosphere.
He also expects backing from local authorities and national bodies, including Dublin City Council, the Irish government and the FAI.
Logistical and regulatory hurdles
UEFA would need to license the stadium before any Champions League final could be awarded. No formal talks have taken place yet.
- UEFA prefers finals at grounds with more than 65,000 seats.
- A terraced section known as Hill 16 requires temporary seating for all-seater compliance.
- The football calendar is an issue because finals usually happen in late May.
Past temporary changes to the ground
Temporary seating has been installed before for international fixtures and an NFL game. The NFL clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings required such measures last year.
Context within Irish sport venues
Before 2005, Rule 42 prevented rugby and football from GAA grounds. That rule was relaxed that year.
During Lansdowne Road renovations, the Republic of Ireland used Croke Park for 13 home matches between 2006 and 2009.
Nearby stadiums and recent finals
The Aviva Stadium holds about 51,700 fans. It hosted the 2024 Europa League final, where Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.
Aviva will stage seven matches at Euro 2028. UEFA’s preference for larger capacities makes Croke Park attractive for a Champions League decider.
Other users and commercial strategy
Leinster Rugby has staged fixtures at Croke Park since 2023. The GAA is actively seeking more major events to boost revenue.
Croke Park is working with promoter TEG Sport for the Manchester United v Leeds friendly. That match will go ahead on August 12 if Leeds do not win the FA Cup or suffer relegation.
Next steps
Demonstrating the stadium can host large football matches is a key near-term objective. Successful events would strengthen any future bid to bring a Champions League final to Dublin.
