In May 2010, the stunning new stadium built on the site of the demolished Lansdowne Road, was opened. Officially named the Aviva Stadium (the insurance company's five-year sponsorship gave them naming rights) it is more commonly known in Ireland as Lansdowne Road and by UEFA as Dublin Arena. With a capacity of 50,000, it was the first stadium in Ireland to be awarded UEFA's Elite status. It is home to both the national football and rugby union sides.
2010-2011
2010-2011
2010-2011 Change
2010 v Slovakia
The new Irish "home" kit was launched in February ahead of its first appearance at the Emirates' Stadium for the friendly with Brazil on 2 March. The shirt was in "St Patrick's green," a rather darker shade than the traditional emerald. The shoulder seam and neck ribbon were finished in dull gold while the hooped socks from the Fifties and Sixties made a welcome return. Attractive as the kit was, the publicity releases were typically over the top. "A fusion of anatomical design and traditional tailoring" was one of the less extravagant claims. The shorts and socks from the new away strip (launched in September) were teamed with the home strip against Slovakia in a European Championship qualifier on 10 October.
On 5 August the mobile phone network, 3 Mobile announced their sponsorship of the Irish team and their logo appeared on replica shirts sold to the public. Tops sold before that had the Eircom logo. Many supporters were profoundly annoyed by this switch that meant that the versions bought earlier in the year became out of date. Players' shirts were, of course, without sponsorship.
On 11 August, 2010, Ireland played in the brand new Aviva Stadium for the first time, a friendly against Argentina.
2011-2012
Home
Change
The new black change strip was worn in the final match of the Carling Nations Cup tournament against Scotland on 27 May 2011. The new home strip, the third in as many seasons, featured the latest in Umbro's range, with stripes made up of a fine zig-zag pattern edged in gold and was worn for the first time in a friendly against Croatia on 10 August.