Unipol Domus

The Unipol Domus is the home of Cagliari Calcio (the southernmost Serie A venue alongside Via del Mare in Lecce) and the most unusual structural story in Serie A — built in 2017 as the Sardegna Arena, a deliberately temporary stadium designed to host Cagliari while a new permanent ground was planned for the demolished Stadio Sant'Elia. Eight years later, the temporary replacement is still in use and the new permanent stadium remains in planning. Capacity is 16,412 across a single-tier bowl with prefabricated stands — built on a tight €8 million budget directly adjacent to the Sant'Elia footprint on Cagliari's southern waterfront. The naming rights passed from regional sponsor to the Unipol insurance group in July 2021, with European matches still played under the UEFA designation Cagliari Calcio Arena (as sponsor names are not permitted in UEFA competition).

Cagliari Calcio's footballing legacy is dominated by the 1969/70 Serie A title — an extraordinary underdog Scudetto won under coach Manlio Scopigno and led by Gigi Riva, the Sardinian-adopted forward who became Italy's all-time top scorer (35 goals for the Azzurri, a record that stood for over 50 years until Ciro Immobile passed him in 2023). The Cagliari ultras' devotion to Riva — who lived in Cagliari until his death in January 2024 — gives the matchday a distinctive emotional weight not matched at most provincial Serie A grounds. The Unipol Domus's temporary nature is itself part of the story: every match here is in a stadium that was supposed to last three years and is now in its ninth.

The story of the Unipol Domus begins with its predecessor — the Stadio Sant'Elia, opened in 1970 to host Cagliari Calcio following their first-ever Serie A title. The Sant'Elia was a large 60,000-capacity municipal bowl that hosted matches at the 1990 FIFA World Cup (three group games including England vs Republic of Ireland). By the 2010s the Sant'Elia had deteriorated significantly, with safety and capacity restrictions limiting it to roughly 16,000 of the original 60,000.

The Temporary Solution (2017)

Faced with deteriorating Sant'Elia conditions and unresolved planning for a permanent replacement, Cagliari built the Sardegna Arena in 2017 — a deliberately temporary stadium on a section of the Sant'Elia footprint. Construction was rapid (around six months) and budget-constrained at approximately €8 million, using prefabricated steel-and-concrete stand sections. The new ground opened on 10 September 2017 with a Cagliari vs SPAL match (2-1 to Cagliari) and was intended to operate for three years while the permanent stadium project advanced.

The Unipol Rebranding (2021)

In July 2021, after four years of operation, the stadium was renamed Unipol Domus under a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Unipol insurance group. The 'Domus' element comes from the Sardinian/Latin word for 'house', tying the name to Cagliari's classical heritage. Under UEFA rules prohibiting sponsor names in European competition, the stadium is referred to as the Cagliari Calcio Arena in UEFA-published materials.

The Sant'Elia Demolition (2018-2024)

The original Sant'Elia stadium was progressively demolished between 2018 and 2024 to clear the site for the new permanent stadium. The demolition itself was complicated by environmental and archaeological considerations — the surrounding coastal area is protected, and remnants of Punic and Roman settlements have been discovered in adjacent excavations.

The Permanent Stadium Project

The new permanent Stadio Sant'Elia project has been at various planning stages since 2014. Multiple architectural proposals have been advanced and revised. As of 2025, the project remains in the late planning stages with construction targeted for the late 2020s. The Unipol Domus is therefore in its ninth year of operation despite being designed as a three-year temporary structure — an extreme example of Italian stadium-planning friction.

Cagliari's Sporting Heritage

While the stadium itself is recent, Cagliari Calcio's heritage is rich. The 1969/70 Serie A title under Manlio Scopigno and led by Gigi Riva — the Sardinian-adopted Italy international who became the Azzurri's all-time top scorer (35 goals, a record that held until 2023) — remains the only Scudetto won by a Sardinian club. Riva lived in Cagliari until his death on 22 January 2024, and the Cagliari ultras maintain a deeply emotional connection to the Sant'Elia and Unipol Domus eras of the club.

How to Get Cagliari Calcio Tickets

There are three main ways to attend a match at the Unipol Domus:

1. Official Club Tickets (Best Value)

Buy directly from cagliaricalcio.com — general sale typically opens 2-3 weeks before kickoff. Prices range from €20 (Curva upper) to €130+ (Tribuna VIP central). Italian rules require nominative tickets with a matching photo ID.

⚠️ Important: Visits from Juventus, Inter, Milan, Napoli and Roma sell out before general sale.

2. Official Hospitality (Guaranteed Access)

Cagliari Calcio hospitality at the Unipol Domus:

• Tribuna VIP — central premium with pre/post-match Sardinian dining, from €180
• Premium Centrale — central with hospitality lounge access, from €220

Book via the Cagliari hospitality desk through the official portal.

3. Third-Party Platforms (Sold-Out Matches)

For sold-out fixtures:

• LiveFootballTickets — Serie A specialists, from €55
• SeatPick — comparison platform

⚠️ Note: Italian nominative-ticket rules mean some resale tickets cannot be legally transferred. Verify the seller can re-issue in your name.

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Unipol Domus Tour

Cagliari Calcio offers occasional stadium tours, particularly around the Gigi Riva legacy.

What You'll See

• Gigi Riva memorial and museum content — Italy's all-time top scorer (35 goals, a record from 1965-2023) lived in Cagliari until his death in January 2024
• 1969/70 Scudetto exhibits — the only Sardinian Serie A title, won by Cagliari with Riva, Albertosi, Domenghini and Cera
• Home dressing room and tunnel
• Pitch-side and dugout access
• Sant'Elia heritage — the previous Cagliari stadium (1970-2017), with photographs and memorabilia
• Future stadium plans — architectural exhibits of the planned permanent replacement

Practical Details

• Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
• Schedule: Limited; typically Saturdays
• Price: Adults around €12-18
• Languages: Italian, English

Booking

• GetYourGuide
• Viator
• Direct: cagliaricalcio.com

Pro tip: Combine the matchday with Cagliari Poetto beach (8 km of white sand, 10 minutes from the stadium) and the Nora archaeological site (Phoenician and Roman ruins, 35 km south). Sardinia genuinely transforms a Serie A trip into a holiday.

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Quick Tips

• Bring photo ID: Tickets are nominative
• Gigi Riva legacy: Look out for Riva murals and memorials around the stadium and Cagliari city
• Sardinian holiday: No Serie A match combines better with Mediterranean island tourism
• Beach + match: The Poetto is 10 minutes from the stadium

Best Seats at Unipol Domus

The ground is a tight, single-tier prefabricated bowl with the Curva Nord at one end (home of the Cagliari ultras), the Curva Sud opposite, the Tribuna Centrale along one long side and the Distinti opposite. The prefabricated design means every seat is reasonably close to the pitch but lacks the architectural character of permanent stadiums.

Curva Nord (North End)

Home of the Cagliari ultras including the Sconvolts Cagliari 1987 group. Compact, vertical, behind the goal. Prices typically €20-40 for Serie A. Atmosphere is excellent — Cagliari's small but devoted Sardinian tifoseria gives the stadium intensity disproportionate to its size.

Curva Sud (South End)

The opposite curve, traditionally allocated to away teams and additional Cagliari supporters. Prices €20-35.

Tribuna Centrale (Long Side, West)

The Tribuna Centrale runs along the west long side with the dressing room tunnel below. Includes Tribuna VIP (premium central). Pricing €55-110 (central), €40-80 (lateral), with central sections most expensive.

Distinti (Long Side, East)

The Distinti is the opposite long side, with views of the Sardinian coast in the distance on clear days. Pricing €40-75.

Premium & Hospitality

Cagliari Calcio offers limited hospitality given the temporary structure. Tribuna VIP packages from around €180. Book via the club hospitality desk.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion seats. The single-tier design makes accessibility straightforward.

Pro Tips

• Best atmosphere: Curva Nord lower
• Best balance: Tribuna Centrale central
• Best photographs: Distinti upper, looking toward the Sardinian coast
• Away fans: Curva Sud upper
• Combine with Sardinia: Cagliari is one of the great Mediterranean island destinations — beaches, archaeology, Sardinian cuisine
• Gigi Riva legacy: Look out for the murals and memorials around the stadium

A matchday at the Unipol Domus is one of Serie A's most genuinely unique experiences — football on a Mediterranean island, in a deliberately temporary stadium with the sea visible from the upper stands, in a city where the legacy of Gigi Riva still shapes the local football culture.

What to Bring

Standard Italian league security. Bags larger than A4 (21cm × 30cm) are not permitted; small handbags and rucksacks are subject to search. Prohibited items include large backpacks, umbrellas with rigid handles, professional cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, flares, glass and outside food/drink. Italian regulations require nominative tickets matched to a photo ID. Arrive 45-60 minutes before kickoff.

Pre-Match (2-3 hours before)

Cagliari's medieval Castello district (high above the city) and the Marina waterfront are the main pre-match gathering points. Bars and trattorias around Via Manno, Largo Carlo Felice and the Marina district fill with rossoblù-clad supporters. Try Trattoria Lillicu for traditional Sardinian cuisine including culurgiones (Sardinian filled pasta), fregola with seafood, and porceddu (slow-roasted suckling pig), or Antico Caffè in the Marina for the matchday aperitivo. The local Cannonau red wine and Vermentino white are the matchday drinks. Many fans take a bus or walk down from the Castello, with the Bastione di Saint Remy offering panoramic city views.

Inside the Stadium

Gates open roughly 90 minutes before kickoff. The prefabricated nature of the stadium is visible up close — exposed steel structures, simple concrete stands. Pre-match anthems include 'Forza Cagliari', 'Rossoblù' (Cagliari's red-and-blue colours) and 'Forza Paris' (a Sardinian-dialect chant). The Curva Nord leads relentless singing — Cagliari's tifoseria is intensely loyal and the Sardinian identity is strongly present in the curva culture.

Food & Drink

Concession kiosks sell Sardinian matchday fare — panini con salsiccia sarda (the local spiced sausage), pane carasau (Sardinian flatbread) with cured meats, panini con porceddu, plus Ichnusa (the iconic Sardinian beer, with the four-Moors logo) and Cannonau by the glass. Prices reasonable (around €5-7). Hospitality areas offer Sardinian tasting menus.

After the Match

Post-match crowds funnel toward Viale La Plaia and the bus interchange. The Cagliari Marina and Castello stay animated until late — Sant'Eulalia is the post-match hub with traditional Sardinian trattorias and modern bars. The Poetto beach is a 10-minute drive from the stadium and stays open late in summer.

International Visitor Tips: Italian rules require nominative tickets matched to a photo ID. Combine the matchday with Cagliari's Castello medieval quarter (Pisan towers, archaeological museum), the Poetto beach (8 km of white sand), the Nora archaeological site (Phoenician and Roman ruins, 35 km south), and Sardinian cuisine. Cagliari Elmas airport is 7 km from the stadium with direct connections from across Europe — making Sardinia genuinely accessible for football tourism.

Where to Stay for Unipol Domus

Near the Stadium (Sant'Elia)

Search hotels near Unipol Domus

The Sant'Elia waterfront district is residential and slightly underserved by tourist accommodation. Most visitors stay in central Cagliari for the medieval and Marina atmosphere.

Cagliari Marina / Centro (Recommended)

Search hotels in central Cagliari

For most visitors, central Cagliari around the Marina waterfront, Largo Carlo Felice or the medieval Castello is the best base — walking distance to the stadium (35 minutes) or short bus, and to the city's medieval quarter, archaeological museum and the famous Poetto beach.

Hotel Regina Margherita (centre, 3 km)

Four-star landmark on Viale Regina Margherita with views over the Marina. Classic Cagliari elegance, walking distance to both the stadium and the Castello.

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Hotel Nautilus (Poetto beach, 5 km)

Four-star beachfront hotel directly on Cagliari Poetto — the famous 8 km white-sand beach. Excellent base for combining football with Mediterranean beach holiday.

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Palazzo Doglio (centro storico, 3 km)

Five-star design hotel in a converted historic palazzo near the Marina. The premier luxury option in Cagliari, walking distance to the stadium.

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T Hotel (Stazione, 3 km)

Four-star modern hotel near Cagliari railway station. Practical for visitors arriving by train and convenient for the bus to the stadium.

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Our Recommendation

For most visitors, central Cagliari around the Marina or near Largo Carlo Felice is the best base — walking distance to the stadium via the waterfront, plus the city's medieval Castello, archaeological museum and Sardinian dining scene. For visitors prioritising beach time, Hotel Nautilus on Poetto offers the ultimate Mediterranean football-and-beach combination.