FANS LEAVING the Aviva Stadium last night were able to do so without a repeat of the congestion which happened at the recent Magners League match between Leinster and Munster.
The underpass at the West Stand, which allows fans to exit the stadium underneath the railway line nearest the Dart, did not become congested and crowds were able to exit the ground without delay.
A crucial change was brought in for last night’s European Championship qualifier against Russia which Ireland lost 3-2.
Fans at last weekend’s match complained they were stuck in the underpass and could not exit the stadium because of the huge crowds coming in the opposite way to access the Dart station.
Last night, barriers were erected along the length of Lansdowne Road and fans coming from the Shelbourne Road end were funnelled down towards the Dart.
Since last Saturday’s game, the stadium has been working on an exit strategy with transport planning consultants Steer Davies Gleave.
A spokesman for the stadium said the plan had worked well and they had learned lessons from previous games at the stadium.
He said they had reviewed the CCTV footage and nobody had been stuck in the underpass for 40 minutes as had been claimed last week. “There was a slowdown for three to five minutes which isn’t acceptable, but it was nowhere near 40 minutes,” he said.
The only trouble last night was a streaker who ran on to the pitch; a fire cracker that had to be put out with a fire extinguisher; and a number of Russian fans remonstrating with stewards when they were told they could not smoke anywhere in the stadium.
There was also no alcohol in the stadium as a result of UEFA rules.
