The home of some of Ireland’s most iconic sporting and cultural moments is stepping into a bold new future. Laya Healthcare has today announced a landmark naming rights partnership with the RDS and Leinster Rugby that will see the historic RDS Arena officially become the Laya Arena.
The agreement, one of the most significant commercial investments in Irish sporting infrastructure, comes as the RDS completes a €52 million redevelopment of its Anglesea Stand and Grandstand.
The result is a stunningly transformed arena with a capacity exceeding 20,000 and facilities designed around connection, accessibility and sustainability.
When it reopens in Summer 2026, Laya Arena will welcome sport, music, culture and community back into a space rebuilt for the next generation. Its first major event, fittingly, will be the much-loved Dublin Horse Show in August 2026.
To mark the announcement, Laya Arena’s brand-new dressing rooms hosted a celebratory event bringing together Leinster Rugby stars Johnny Sexton, Linda Djougang and Garry Ringrose, rising showjumping talent Tom Wachman, and Hermitage Green musician, singer and former Ireland international Barry Murphy.
A Vision Over a Decade in the Making
Nearly ten years ago, long before the first section of the Anglesea Stand was demolished, there were early signs that a transformative partnership might lie ahead.
On June 3rd, 2015, Sport for Business reported:
“Sport for Business understands that an announcement is imminent over naming rights to the RDS Arena, home to Leinster Rugby and the Dublin Horse Show. Deals like this are never sealed until they are signed but the logic and the sources we have spoken to suggest that Laya Healthcare will be new partner once the arena has been redeveloped as part of an expansion to become a 25,000 seat home for sport in the heart of the city.”
The prediction was ahead of its time — the redevelopment would not break ground for several more years, and the commercial landscape has shifted significantly since. Yet the core idea has endured: a health and wellbeing brand partnering with one of Ireland’s most historic venues to reshape what live experiences in Dublin could look like. The 2025 announcement brings that long-speculated possibility to life.
A Venue Designed to Bring Fans Closer
Central to the redevelopment is a vision of proximity — not only physically through improved sightlines and seating but experientially, connecting fans more deeply with the moments that matter.
The new Anglesea Stand has been engineered to deliver sharper viewing angles and a more immersive feel, bringing supporters closer to the energy of a Leinster try, the heartbeat of a concert, or the elegance of a world-class equestrian display.
Inclusion and accessibility have formed core pillars of the redesign. The arena has been thoughtfully planned to welcome every fan, with new accessible routes, improved seating options and a commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, ability or background, can enjoy what is taking place on the pitch or stage.
That sense of openness is also reflected in the wider partnership vision.
“Today is a landmark moment for laya healthcare – one of the biggest sponsorship investments in our 25-year history, and a powerful statement about our future now that we are part of AXA,” said D.O. O’Connor, laya healthcare Managing Director.
“Laya Arena brings us closer to the action, closer to our members, and closer to the communities we serve.”
He emphasised that the initiative is about more than branding. “It deepens our long-term connection with rugby while opening the door to incredible shared experiences in sport, music and culture — all with connection and wellbeing at their core. This is about building something that lasts, something that truly belongs to everyone.”
A Commitment to Sustainability
Laya Arena is also a model for how Ireland’s venues can evolve sustainably. The redevelopment incorporates a solar energy generation system on the roof of the Anglesea Stand, innovative water-management technologies and advanced waste-segregation systems.
These features both reduce environmental impact and reflect a shared ethos between the RDS, Leinster Rugby and laya healthcare around healthier, more responsible live experiences.
New Experiences for Laya Members
Alongside the redevelopment, Laya healthcare will roll out a suite of exclusive member benefits timed to coincide with the arena’s reopening in 2026. These will range from ticket giveaways to major sporting fixtures and music events, to wellbeing experiences and behind-the-scenes access not available anywhere else.
Strengthening the RDS Foundation and Local Communities
The commercial strength of the partnership will play a crucial role in funding the work of the RDS Foundation, which delivers educational, cultural and scientific programmes and bursaries across Ireland. The arena’s success therefore extends far beyond its gates, with knock-on benefits for communities throughout the country.
Paul Kelly, RDS CEO, underlined the significance of the agreement, saying, “The RDS has been a cornerstone of Irish life for centuries, and with Laya Arena, we are embarking on an exciting new chapter.”
A Homecoming for Leinster Rugby
For Leinster Rugby, today’s announcement also marks the final step toward a long-awaited homecoming. While construction continues, Leinster will remain at the Aviva Stadium — itself secured through a new five-year extension to Aviva’s naming rights deal. The extension ensures stability, giving Leinster a world-class Dublin base until their purpose-built arena is ready.
Shane Nolan, Leinster Rugby CEO, described the moment as transformative, saying, “This is a hugely significant day for Leinster Rugby as we move ever closer to a return to the RDS, our home stadium since 2007 and indeed, for the many years ahead.”
Join us tomorrow morning when the Sport for Business Daily Podcast will return wityh a host of voices recorded in the new dressing rooms…
Image Credits: Sport for Business, Laya Healthcare and Dan Sheridan, Inpho.ie
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Read our Sport for Business Coverage of Sponsorship
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