The arena was developed to host equestrian events, primarily the annual Dublin Horse Show, which was first held there in 1881.

The Grandstand was rebuilt in 2006 for the 2006–07 rugby season, to replace the old wooden stand when Leinster first became permanent tenants.

[1] In July 2014, it was announced by the RDS and Leinster Rugby that a design competition was being held to develop the arena into a 25,000 capacity world class stadium, with work expected to commence on the redevelopment in April 2016.

[2] The selling of naming rights to the arena will be a key component in funding the project, with a budget of at least €20,000,000 being proposed.

[5] The Stadium held its first international match on 19 February 1992 when it played host to a home game between Ireland and Wales national football team.

The stadium hosted some games of the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championships including the third-place playoff and the final.

The RDS hosted a game between St Patrick's Athletic and Hertha Berlin in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first round.

[6] St Patrick's Athletic also played Steaua București in the Arena on 27 August 2009 in the Europa League.

[7] The Arena was originally constructed to host show-jumping events, the Dublin Horse Show having been held by the RDS annually since 1864.

The Aga Khan of the time heard of this proposal and offered a challenge trophy to the winner of the competition.

In 1926 International Competitions were introduced to the show and was the first time the Nations' Cup for the Aga Khan Challenge trophy was held.

Six countries competed in the first international teams competition for the Aga Khan Challenge trophy – Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Ireland.

After renovation and expansion, the Grandstand and North and South Stands were expanded, boosting the capacity to 18,500 along with floodlights being installed and a new playing surface being laid, to withstand the demands of a full rugby season and show jumping events.

The RDS had proven to be a very successful hunting ground for Leinster, as they won 11 of their 12 home games that season, culminating on Saturday 3 May 2008 in a 41–8 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons and lifting the Celtic League trophy that day.

Between March 2008 and 2010, the final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup was played in the RDS due to the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, its traditional venue.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band will return to the Arena on the 5 and 7 May 2023 as part of their 2023 International Tour, with a third, additional show on 9 May 2023.

During the opening number Zoo Station on this night, Bono altered a lyric to say "Hey child, it's alright, sleeping in my own bed tonight."

Iron Maiden performed at the RDS during their Early Days tour in 2005 to a crowd of over 35 thousand, supported by Turbonegro and Marilyn Manson, the first time the latter had been allowed to play in Ireland.