Ravenhill Stadium (known as the Affidea Stadium for sponsorship reasons from July 2025,"Ulster Rugby Announces Long-Term Stadium Naming Rights Partnership with Affidea", Ulster Rugby, 3 July 2025 formerly known as the Kingspan Stadium) is a rugby stadium located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home of Ulster Rugby. With the opening of a new stand for the 2014 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens on 5 April 2014, the capacity of the stadium is now 18,196. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
History Up until the 1920s, Ulster and Ireland played games at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society grounds in Belfast."100 years of Ulster Rugby’s home", Ulster Rugby, 11 January 2024 In 1923 the IRFU purchased Ravenhill rugby ground, formerly the home of Cooke RFC,"Old Cookers wanted..." In Touch Rugby, 18 August 2010 for £2,300,Ciaran Donaghy, "Ravenhill's grand stage celebrates 100 years of Ulster magic and memories", News Letter, 12 January 2024 and built a stand holding 3,500 spectators at a cost of £15,500,"It's good to be back", Belfast Telegraph, 10 July 2006 designed by Belfast architects Henry Hobart and Samuel Heron. It was inaugurated on 12 January 1924 with a 14-6 Ulster win over Leinster, and soon afterwards, on 9 February 1924, hosted Ireland's 3-14 defeat to England. A memorial arch, dedicated to Irish rugby players killed in World War I and World War II, was erected at the entrance and dedicated in 1926."Ulster Rugby memorial", War Memorials Online. Retrieved 11 August 2025
Ravenhill has been the annual venue for the Ulster Schools Cup final since 1924, which is traditionally contested on St Patrick's Day. The stadium is traditionally the venue for the Ulster Towns Cup, played on Easter Monday.
Ravenhill has hosted 18 international matches, including pool games in both the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups. The most recent Ireland international played at the stadium was on 24 August 2007 against Italy in a warm-up match for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Prior to that match, Scotland was the last visitor in the 1954 Five Nations Championship. Ravenhill also hosted the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship final in which New Zealand defeated South Africa.
Ravenhill hosted memorable Ulster games in the Heineken Cup. Ulster beat Toulouse 15–13 at Ravenhill in the quarter-finals of the 1998–99 Heineken Cup. Ravenhill then hosted the 1998–99 Heineken Cup semi-final in which Ulster defeated Stade Français 33–27. The most memorable moment in that game was when out half David Humphreys ran from the Ulster 10-metre line to score a try.
On 30 May 2015, the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final was played at the Kingspan Stadium. Glasgow Warriors beat Munster 31–13.
On 26 August 2017, the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup Final was played at the Kingspan Stadium. New Zealand beat England 41–32. The semi-final matches and some play-off matches of the Women's Rugby World Cup were also played at the stadium.
A 3G artificial playing surface was installed ahead of the 2023-24 season,"Ulster Rugby: Artificial pitch 'will certainly change things', says assistant coach Dan Soper", BBC Sport, 25 September 2023 in place of the original grass pitch.Michael Kenwood, "New Kingspan 3G pitch approved despite local objections", Belfast Live, 1 July 2023
American Football
In 1942, Ravenhill was the scene of the first game of American football ever played on the island of Ireland, played between teams representing service and artillery units of the United States Army stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II before an audience of more than 8000.
In 2022, Ravenhill hosted Shamrock Bowl XXXIV, the annual championship of American Football Ireland. UCD defeated Dublin Rebels in the game by a score of 52-24 to secure their first Shamrock Bowl title.
2009 Redevelopment
The new stand at Ravenhill was officially opened on 9 October 2009 by First Minister Peter Robinson, before a match between Ulster and Bath Rugby. The stand has however been in use since the first home match of the 2009–2010 season, against Edinburgh Rugby.
The stand is on the Mount Merrion side of the ground, and consists of a terraced area, over 500 premium seats, and 20 corporate boxes. The terraced area is now covered by a roof for the first time in the stadium's history. The cost of the project is approximately £4.5 million, and has been funded by a mixture of public-sector funding, sales of premium tickets and boxes, and loans from the IRFU.
2012–2014 Redevelopment In 2011, the Northern Ireland Executive announced that it had granted £138m for various stadium redevelopment projects throughout Northern Ireland. Ulster Rugby received £14.5m, which was used to redevelop Ravenhill and expand its capacity from 12,000 to 18,000.Stadiums fit for our heroes on way at last - Belfast Telegraph, 11/03/11
In 2012, Ulster Rugby confirmed that three new stands would be built at Ravenhill, with work commencing in late 2012. Two new stands at the Memorial and Aquinas ends of the stadium were completed while the main stand was demolished and rebuilt. The major refurbishment was completed in April 2014.Plans for Ravenhill refurbishment are unveiled - BBC News, 24 January 2012
Sponsorship On 5 June 2014, Ulster signed a 10-year contract with the Kingspan Group for the naming rights to Ravenhill, meaning that the stadium would be known as the Kingspan Stadium until 2024.Ulster Rugby agrees stadium naming rights deal with Kingspan - Ulster Rugby, 5 June 2014 As the sponsorship deal approached its end, Kingspan agreed to extend it for a further year to allow Ulster time to find a new sponsor."Ulster Rugby: Kingspan to remain 'on-board' with club in 'transitionary period' until 2025", BBC Sport, 17 January 2024 In July 2025, Ulster signed a new stadium naming rights deal with healthcare provider Affidea.Adam McKendry, "Ulster Rugby confirm deal with leading healthcare provider to replace Kingspan as new stadium sponsor", Belfast Telegraph, 3 July 2025
Ireland Internationals Ireland Senior Test MatchesDateCompetitionHomeAwayScoreAttendance Report9 February 1924Five Nations 3–1415,00014 March 1925Five Nations Wales19–323 January 1926Five Nations11–020,00028 January 1928Five Nations12–820,0009 March 1929Five Nations Wales5–525 January 1930Five Nations0–525,00014 March 1931Five Nations Wales3–1530,00011 March 1933Home Nations Wales10–59 March 1935Home Nations Wales9–335,0003 April 1937Home Nations Wales5–320,00011 March 1939Home Nations Wales0–728,00013 March 1948Five Nations Wales6–332,00011 March 1950Five Nations Wales3–624 January 1953Five Nations16–338,00027 February 1954Five Nations6–024 August 20072007 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches23–2014,100
Ireland's Record at the Ravenhill Competition Played Won Drawn Lost % Won Test Match 1 1 0 0 % Home/Five Nations 15 9 1 5 % Total 16 10 1 5 % This table does not include the results of the Ireland Wolfhounds, Ireland A, Ireland B or the Ireland U25 sides. Updated 21 April 2021
Ireland Uncapped International MatchesDateCompetitionHomeAwayScoreAttendanceReport4 December 1982 England B6–1022 December 1990 Scotland B 16–026 November 199726–101 December 19981998 South Africa tour of Britain and Ireland19–5010,00028 December 199821–167 November 20002000 Japan tour of Europe83–1316 February 200123–5513 November 20012001 New Zealand rugby union tour30–431 March 200260–37 March 200319–299 February 20075–323,52813 November 20092009 end-of-year rugby union internationals48–193,7775 February 201034–192,7464 February 201120–112,000
Rugby World Cup Matches
Ulster Home Attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance––––– 1995–96 Heineken Cup12,500 2,5002,5002,5002,500––––– 1996–97 Heineken Cup25,750 8,0003,50011,5005,750––––– 1997–98 Heineken Cup32,617 3,2502,1007,8502,617––––– 1998–99 Heineken Cup511,000 20,0004,50055,00011,000––––– 1999–00 Heineken Cup38,667 12,0006,00026,0008,667––––– 2000–01 Heineken Cup312,500 13,50012,00037,50012,5002001–02 Celtic League48,50012,0006,0002001–02 Heineken Cup311,833 13,00010,00069,5009,9292002–03 Celtic League48,37510,5006,0002002–03 Heineken Cup311,717 12,50011,00068,6509,8072003–04 Celtic League12•6,86312,0005,0412003–04 Heineken Cup311,489 12,30010,243116,8197,7882004–05 Celtic League106,6938,1455,6382004–05 Heineken Cup39,452 11,4357,32095,2837,3302005–06 Celtic League109,18112,3006,4872005–06 Heineken Cup312,284 12,30012,252128,6659,8972006–07 Celtic League1010,20712,9007,4292006–07 Heineken Cup312,599 12,77212,278139,86210,7592007–08 Celtic League99,66113,1326,5922007–08 Heineken Cup310,335 13,0008,340117,9569,8302008–09 Celtic League99,08513,5007,3682008–09 Heineken Cup39,329 10,3978,729109,7529,1462009–10 Celtic League98,86311,8007,3342009–10 Heineken Cup310,509 11,0008,262109,9479,1622010–11 Celtic League118,47611,4266,6512010–11 Heineken Cup38,863 10,5667,777119,8298,5592011–12 Pro12118,25811,3796,2962011–12 Heineken Cup39,593 11,9007,494119,6208,5442012–13 Pro121210,37311,0788,1082012–13 Heineken Cup311,123 11,45110,940157,84010,5232013–14 Pro121113,34816,95010,6932013–14 Heineken Cup414,464 16,85312,977204,67813,6452014–15 Pro121116,03717,13913,5012014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup316,179 16,93115,659224,94616,0682015–16 Pro121115,31017,33212,6402015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup316,111 17,10815,108216,74015,4812016–17 Pro121115,96117,67613,6632016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup316,028 16,84314,924223,65815,9762017–18 Pro1412*14,02617,6317,0142017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup315,314 15,64615,004214,24714,2832018–19 Pro141113,83517,35811,8822018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup314,039 16,84212,124194,30013,8792019–20 Pro147‡13,81817,48310,9752019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup317,024 17,92315,466147,79614,7802020–21 Pro14 Pro14 Rainbow Cup0‡–––2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup0‡– ––––2021–22 United Rugby Championship 1011,69616,2749,5422021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup314,969 18,19612,000161,86912,4522022–23 United Rugby Championship 1013,41316,74110,8582022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup118,196 18,19618,196152,33013,8482023–24 United Rugby Championship 8†13,67918,19610,1812023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup214,437 16,59212,282138,30513,8312024–25 United Rugby Championship 913,17616,49111,5332024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup212,335 13,09311,576143,25113,0232025–26 United Rugby Championship 912,60618,196 9,5632025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup59,696 11,9007,169161,93011,566 •Match figures inclusive of both Celtic League and Celtic Cup fixtures. *Match figures inclusive of both Pro14 League fixtures and a European Champions Cup playoff fixture. ‡Match figures include fixtures in which COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance, but exclude fixtures in which no spectators were allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. †Only matches in which there was a reported attendance are included. Up to date as of the 2024–25 season.
Key Record high Record low * Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Ravenhill Facilities Prior to Redevelopment
References
External links