Gary McGann has been appointed as the new independent Chair of New Stadium DAC, the company operating the Aviva Stadium, bringing one of Ireland’s most experienced business leaders into a role at the heart of one of the country’s most important sports and entertainment venues.
The appointment comes at a significant moment for the stadium, with major concerts, international football and rugby, American college football, a bid for the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, and the build-up to UEFA Euro 2028 all sitting on the near horizon.
McGann has held senior executive and non-executive roles across some of Ireland’s best-known companies. He is currently Chair of privately owned Sicon Ltd and Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Ltd, the Irish subsidiary of Aon plc, and serves as Senior Advisor and Chair of Teneo’s Ireland Advisory Board.
He is also Chair of Allegro.Eu S.A., the European e-commerce marketplace operator, served from 2014 to 2023 as Director and Chair of Flutter Entertainment Plc, a period during which the company grew significantly in scale and value.
His previous executive appointments include Chief Executive Officer roles at Smurfit Kappa Group Plc and Aer Lingus, and earlier in his career, he was CEO of Gilbey’s of Ireland and held senior roles, including Group Financial Controller at Ericsson Ireland.
New Stadium DAC is the corporate entity responsible for the ownership and operation of Aviva Stadium. Jointly owned by the FAI and the IRFU, it provides governance and strategic oversight of Ireland’s national stadium, supported by commercial partnerships including naming rights partner Aviva.
Interim Chair Josephine Feehily welcomed the appointment, saying McGann’s experience across large-scale organisations, governance and high-growth businesses would be of significant value as the venue continues to strengthen its position as a world-class stage for sport, entertainment and major events.
“I am honoured to take on the role of Chair of New Stadium DAC,” said McGann.
“As the home of Irish rugby and football and a venue of national significance, Aviva Stadium plays a unique role in Ireland’s sporting, cultural and economic life.”
“I look forward to working with the Board, management team, the FAI, the IRFU and our partners to support its continued success and ongoing development as a leading host of major international sporting and cultural events.”
Major Events Pipeline
The appointment lands during one of the busiest and most strategically important periods in the stadium’s history.
The venue calendar now stretches well beyond its traditional base of rugby and football internationals. It includes major concerts, high-profile conferences, American college football, European club competition, women’s international fixtures, and major one-off events that bring visitors into Dublin from around the world.
The IRFU recently welcomed a record attendance of more than 31,000 to Aviva Stadium for Ireland against Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations, setting a new benchmark for women’s rugby in Ireland.
On the football side, the FAI has submitted its final bid dossier to UEFA to host the 2029 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in Dublin, with the Aviva Stadium central to that proposal. UEFA is due to make its decision in September 2026.
The stadium is also preparing to host seven matches at UEFA Euro 2028, including five group games, one Round of 16 fixture and a quarter-final. For the tournament, the venue will be referred to as Dublin Arena.
Economic Impact
The wider value of the stadium was underlined earlier this year in an independent report by Indecon International Economic & Strategic Consultants.
The report found that since opening in 2010, Aviva Stadium has welcomed more than 10 million attendees across over 300 major events, generating €4.5 billion in economy-wide expenditure and supporting approximately 10,000 jobs annually across Ireland.
The same report estimated that 2024 alone delivered €832 million in total economy-wide expenditure, with 33 major events attracting 1.2 million attendees and contributing €130 million in tax revenues.
It also pointed to the stadium’s value as a driver of international tourism, with almost 130,000 out-of-state attendees in 2024 generating €417 million in net additional economic impact.
Looking ahead, Indecon forecast that the stadium will generate an average economic impact of €815 million per year between 2025 and 2029, peaking in 2028 when the Euro 2028 matches are expected to contribute €942 million to the Irish economy.
Sport for Business Perspective
This is a strong governance appointment at a time when the Aviva Stadium is entering a new phase of its life as a national asset. The recent appointment of Alan Gallagher as the new CEO is another key step forward.
The stadium is no longer simply the home ground for international rugby and football. It is a platform for tourism, culture, sponsorship, business events, women’s sport, international diplomacy and major event hosting.
Gary McGann’s appointment brings heavyweight commercial and boardroom experience to that mix. The challenge now will be to ensure that the stadium continues to grow its impact while balancing the needs of its two shareholder bodies, its commercial partners, event promoters, visiting teams, supporters, local residents and the wider Irish economy.
The next three years will be particularly important, with Euro 2028 on the horizon, major annual events continuing to grow, and the possibility of a UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in Dublin in 2029.
Aviva Stadium has already established itself as one of the most important pieces of sporting infrastructure in the country. This appointment suggests a clear intent to match that physical asset with governance and leadership capable of maximising the opportunity ahead.
Aviva Stadium, the FAI and the IRFU are full members of Sport for Business.
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Image Credit: Aviva Stadium
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