Sardegna Arena is the home of Cagliari Calcio, a compact 16,412-capacity ground on the seafront in Cagliari and one of the smallest but most atmospheric stadiums in Serie A. Demand for Sardegna Arena tickets is driven by the fierce loyalty of the Sardinian support, by the visits of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli and by a small capacity that makes tickets hard to come by for the biggest fixtures. The stadium, opened in 2017 as a temporary home and known today as the Unipol Domus, stands beside the site of the old Stadio Sant'Elia while the club awaits a new permanent ground. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the bus and the walk out from the centre of Cagliari, how the small ground is laid out, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the food and wine of Sardinia, and the story of the island's proud club and its greatest legend. By the end you should know how a Cagliari matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sardegna Arena, now the Unipol Domus |
| Location | Sant'Elia, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy |
| Capacity | 16,412 |
| Opened | 2017, as a temporary stadium |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | Cagliari Calcio |
| Away Section | A small allocation, around 400 seats |
| Built On | The site beside the old Stadio Sant'Elia |
| Notable | Built in under four months, awaiting a new permanent ground |
| Nearest City | Cagliari centre, a few kilometres away |
Sardegna Arena sits in the Sant'Elia district of Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, on the flat ground near the sea a few kilometres southeast of the historic centre, beside the site of the old Stadio Sant'Elia. Cagliari is a handsome and compact city on the Mediterranean, and the ground is reached from the centre by bus, taxi or a longish walk along the waterfront. Most supporters take a bus or a taxi out to the Sant'Elia area, or walk from the centre on a fine day.
The city buses of Cagliari serve the Sant'Elia area from the centre, a short ride of around fifteen to twenty minutes, and they are the main public-transport route to the ground. On matchday the buses towards Sant'Elia and the waterfront carry supporters out to the stadium, and it is worth checking the route and the nearest stop, from where the ground is a short walk. The bus is the simplest option for most visitors without a car.
From the centre of Cagliari the ground is a walk of around thirty to forty minutes along the waterfront and towards Sant'Elia, a pleasant stroll on a fine day by the Mediterranean, though a fair way for some. Taxis are a quick and easy alternative, plentiful in the city and inexpensive for the short trip out to the ground, a good option in the heat or after dark. Many supporters combine the walk out along the sea with a bus or taxi back, depending on the weather and the time.
Cagliari's mainline railway station and the ferry port sit in the centre of the city, near the waterfront, a few kilometres from the ground and linked by bus or taxi, connecting the island to the Italian mainland by rail and sea. Cagliari Elmas airport lies around eight kilometres northwest of the city, connected to the centre by a regular train and by bus and taxi, so visitors flying in reach the centre quickly and continue out to the ground. The compact city makes the whole journey straightforward.
The ground is reachable by road in the Sant'Elia area, with some parking around the stadium and the waterfront, more than at a city-centre ground given the open setting by the sea. The roads and the parking fill up before a bigger match, so arriving early helps, but a car is a practical option here, particularly for visitors touring the island. Those staying in the centre may find the bus, a taxi or the walk easier than driving and parking near the ground on a busy matchday.
Parking at Sardegna Arena is available in the Sant'Elia area around the ground and along the waterfront, more than at many city-centre stadiums given the open seafront setting, though it fills up before a bigger match. Arriving early helps secure a space, particularly for the visit of one of the big clubs when demand is high for the small ground. Given how compact Cagliari is and how well the buses and taxis serve the Sant'Elia area, many supporters find public transport or a taxi easier than driving, but for those touring the island by car the parking near the ground is a practical option.
Sardegna Arena is a small, modern, temporary stadium of just over sixteen thousand places, built quickly in 2017 in a C-shaped design with a covered main stand on the western side and lower stands around the rest of the pitch. The main stand holds the covered seating, the premium areas and the facilities, with the best central view of the play, while the curved stands behind the goals and opposite are more open. The small size means every seat is close to the pitch, and the intimate ground can generate a fierce atmosphere when full for a big fixture.
The main stand on the western side is the heart of the ground, holding the covered seating, the premium areas, the media positions and the facilities, with the best central views along the halfway line and shelter from the sun and the rain. The central seats give the finest view of the play, and the cover is welcome in the Sardinian sun or a rare shower. In a ground this size every seat is close to the action, so the main stand combines a good view with the comforts of the stadium.
The curved stands behind the goals and opposite the main stand hold much of the passionate Cagliari support, the Rossoblu faithful in the red and blue of the club, and they are where the singing and the atmosphere come from on a matchday. These sections are more open and closer to the modest scale of the ground, and for a big fixture they are packed and loud, generating a noise beyond what the small capacity would suggest. This is the section to target for the fullest atmosphere among the island's supporters.
Away supporters are housed in a small designated section of the ground, with an allocation of only around four hundred seats, one of the smallest in Serie A, reflecting the compact size of the stadium, so visiting fans should book early. The ground has accessible provision for wheelchair users, with step-free access to the relevant areas, though as a small temporary stadium the facilities are modest compared with a large modern arena, so supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | The curved stands with the home support |
| Best view | Main stand, central seats |
| Cover from the weather | The covered main stand |
| Close to the pitch | Front rows anywhere in the small ground |
| Budget-friendly | The open curved stands |
| Away fans | The small designated visiting-fan section |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user positions (contact the club) |
Cagliari has a warm Mediterranean climate, one of the sunniest and mildest in Italy, with hot, dry summers and mild winters on the coast of Sardinia, so most of the season is played in pleasant conditions. Only the main stand is covered, so the open curved stands are exposed to the sun and the occasional rain or the sea breeze, which can be brisk. For a late-summer or early-season fixture take sun protection and water given the strong Sardinian sun, and for a winter match a light layer is usually enough, though a waterproof is wise for the occasional shower off the sea.
Like other Serie A grounds, Sardegna Arena runs a firm bag policy with searches on entry, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your accommodation, since oversized bags are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. Italian football requires photo identification matching the ticket for many fixtures, so bring your identification. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search.
Cagliari and Sardinia are a paradise for food and wine, with a distinctive island cuisine and fine local wines, so the matchday build-up is a real pleasure. The ground is in the Sant'Elia area by the sea, so while there are spots near the stadium and along the waterfront, the fuller choice of bars and restaurants is in the historic centre, a short bus or taxi ride away.
Sardinian cuisine is one of the most distinctive in Italy, from the thin carasau bread and the culurgiones pasta parcels to roast suckling pig, fresh seafood from the surrounding sea and the island's pecorino cheeses, all matched with Sardinian wines such as the red Cannonau and the white Vermentino. The centre of Cagliari, around the old town of Castello and the Marina district by the port, is full of trattorias, bars and cafes serving the island's food and wine. A meal of Sardinian specialities before the trip out to the ground is one of the pleasures of a football trip to Cagliari.
The historic centre of Cagliari, with the hilltop old town of Castello, the Marina district by the port and the lively bars and restaurants, is the place to gather before a match, while the Sant'Elia area around the ground is more residential with local spots and the waterfront. Because the stadium is a short way from the centre, most supporters build the day around the old town and the port and take a bus or taxi out. A drink by the harbour or in the atmospheric streets of Castello is a fine way to start a Cagliari matchday.
Inside the small stadium the catering is modest, in keeping with the scale of the ground, with basic snacks and drinks rather than the range of a large arena. The real draw is the food and wine of Cagliari and Sardinia outside the ground, so for a fuller experience eat and drink in the centre or by the port beforehand, among the trattorias and bars, then head to the ground in Sant'Elia for the match.
Cagliari use modern ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket is issued digitally and scanned at the turnstile, and Italian rules mean the name on the ticket is often tied to the holder, with photo identification checked on entry for many matches. Load the ticket, charge your phone and bring your identification before you reach the entrance. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd filter in, and given the small size of the ground the entrances are less crowded than at a major stadium, though with a bag search and an identity check it is still wise to arrive in good time, especially for the visit of a big club.
Leaving a small ground by the sea is straightforward, with most supporters taking a bus or taxi or walking back into the centre of Cagliari.
The city buses and taxis carry the crowd back towards the centre and the port after the match, a short ride from the Sant'Elia area, running after the final whistle though services from a smaller ground can be busier, so check the times. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive for the short trip back, a good option after dark. The modest size of the ground means there is little of the congestion of a major stadium, so the journey back is usually quick and easy.
On a fine evening the walk back into the centre of Cagliari along the waterfront is a pleasant way out, around thirty to forty minutes by the sea, avoiding any wait for transport. The seafront route is well lit and busy on matchday, so a walk before picking up a bus or taxi part of the way is a good way to enjoy the setting. The compact city means you are back in the heart of Cagliari in good time for the evening.
The natural way to end a Cagliari matchday is to head back into the old town or down to the port for the evening, for Sardinian food and a glass of Cannonau or Vermentino in one of the trattorias or bars of a beautiful island capital. The small scale of the ground means there is no great post-match crush, so you can take your time and enjoy the setting. An evening in the historic centre of Cagliari after the match is a fine end to a football trip to Sardinia.
Sardegna Arena opened in 2017, built quickly in under four months as a temporary home for Cagliari Calcio after the club's old ground, the Stadio Sant'Elia, was deemed no longer fit for purpose, and it stands on the site beside the former stadium in the Sant'Elia district by the sea. A compact, modern ground of just over sixteen thousand places, later renamed the Unipol Domus under a sponsorship deal, it was always intended as a stopgap while a new permanent stadium is built, and its small size gives it an intimate, atmospheric character rather different from the great arenas of Serie A. It has been the club's home through their recent seasons in the top flight.
Cagliari Calcio are the club of the island of Sardinia, the only Sardinian side to have graced the top flight of Italian football, and they carry the pride of the island in the red and blue of the Rossoblu. The greatest chapter in the club's history came in 1970, when Cagliari won the Serie A title, their only Scudetto, a remarkable achievement for an island club, inspired by Gigi Riva, the legendary forward who spent his whole career with Cagliari and remained for decades the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team. Riva is revered as the greatest figure in the club's history and one of the icons of Italian football.
The ground has staged the club's recent Serie A campaigns, with the visits of the giants of Italian football, Juventus, Inter, Milan, Napoli and Roma, the biggest occasions of the season for the island's supporters. The small capacity and the passion of the Rossoblu faithful make a full house at the Sardegna Arena a fierce and intimate occasion. From the 1970 title to the modern day, Cagliari football carries a proud island identity, and the temporary ground has been a spirited home while the club looks to the future.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, is defined by the recent Serie A campaigns of Cagliari and by the passion of the island's support. Its biggest occasions have come against the giants of Italian football, when the small ground has been packed and loud for the visits of Juventus, Inter, Milan and Napoli, generating a noise beyond its size. While the temporary Sardegna Arena is young, it carries on the story of a proud club whose greatest days, above all the 1970 title inspired by Gigi Riva, remain among the most cherished in the history of Sardinian and Italian football.
The future of Cagliari's home is one of the more anticipated stories in Italian football, as the Sardegna Arena was always intended as a temporary ground while a new permanent stadium is built on the site of the old Stadio Sant'Elia. Plans for the new stadium, set to be named after the club's great legend Gigi Riva, have advanced in recent years, with funding approved and the project moving towards construction after years of delay. When the new ground is ready, the temporary Sardegna Arena is expected to be removed, and Cagliari will move into a modern permanent home fit for the island's club. For now the temporary ground remains a spirited home while the new stadium is realised.
Sardegna Arena has accessible provision for wheelchair users, with step-free access to the relevant areas, though as a small temporary stadium the facilities are modest compared with a large modern arena, and the planned permanent ground should improve this in time. Supporters requiring accessible seating should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available spaces, arrange any companion ticket and check the best route into the ground and the nearest parking or drop-off. The buses and taxis from the centre give reasonable access to the ground in the Sant'Elia area, and the club can advise on the most suitable arrangement for a given fixture.
The fixtures that move Sardegna Arena tickets fastest are the visits of the giants of Italian football, whose demand far outstrips the small capacity. The visit of Roma is one of the standout occasions, and you can follow it on the Cagliari vs Roma tickets page. The meetings with Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli are the other biggest draws, filling the small ground and selling out fast. The full home programme sits on the Cagliari tickets and Serie A tickets listings. Fixtures against mid-table sides are the most accessible and sometimes available closer to kick-off, though the small capacity keeps demand high across the board. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the visits of the big clubs.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the Sardegna Arena listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available areas, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the area and price filters to compare parts of the ground. Seat location is shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh a covered main-stand seat against a place in the curved stands with the home support before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and the away allocation is small, so visiting fans should book early for the biggest fixtures.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that Italian fixtures often require photo identification matching the ticket. Serie A kick-off times can shift with broadcast scheduling, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a ferry or flight.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for Cagliari fixtures are typically issued digitally, sometimes registered to a named holder. Keep the ticket and your identification ready to scan and check, and follow the delivery instructions supplied with your order.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Cagliari makes a wonderful and unusual football trip, the capital of the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sardinia, with its hilltop old town, its port, its beaches and some of the finest food and wine in Italy. Fly into Cagliari Elmas airport, connected to the centre by train and bus, or arrive by ferry from the mainland, and base yourself in the centre near the old town and the port, reaching the ground by bus, taxi or the walk along the sea. Remember that Italian fixtures often require photo identification matching the ticket, that the ground is a small temporary stadium in the Sant'Elia district, and that the beaches, the food and the island setting are a reason to travel in themselves. Cagliari pairs a match with one of the most rewarding island breaks in the Mediterranean.
With the beaches and towns of Sardinia close by, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on. In and around Cagliari, the hilltop old town of Castello with its towers and views, the Marina district and the port, the long Poetto beach and the flamingos of the nearby lagoon, and the wider coast and countryside of Sardinia all reward a matchday trip to the island.
Sardegna Arena holds 16,412, one of the smallest grounds in Serie A. It is a compact, modern, temporary stadium in a C-shaped design with a covered main stand, built quickly in 2017. The small size means every seat is close to the pitch and the intimate ground can generate a fierce atmosphere when full for a big fixture.
The ground is the home of Cagliari Calcio, the club of the island of Sardinia and the only Sardinian side to have played in the top flight of Italian football. Known as the Rossoblu, Cagliari moved into the temporary ground in 2017, and it has been their home through their recent seasons in Serie A.
The ground is in the Sant'Elia district by the sea, a few kilometres southeast of the centre of Cagliari. Take a city bus from the centre, around fifteen to twenty minutes, or a taxi, or walk along the waterfront in around thirty to forty minutes. Cagliari Elmas airport is around eight kilometres away, connected to the centre by train and bus.
Yes, there is parking in the Sant'Elia area around the ground and along the waterfront, more than at many city-centre stadiums given the open seafront setting. It fills up before a bigger match, so arrive early. Given how compact Cagliari is, many supporters find the bus, a taxi or the walk easier than driving, though a car is practical for those touring the island.
Yes, tickets are sold to the general public, though the small capacity means the visits of the big clubs sell out fast. Italian fixtures often require identification matching the ticket. A verified secondary marketplace is a realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay, especially useful given how quickly the small ground fills for the marquee fixtures.
Travel light, as large bags and rucksacks are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Expect a search, and often an identity check, at the entrance. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. Bring photo identification, as Italian football frequently ties the ticket to a named holder. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit.
The curved stands behind the goals and opposite the main stand hold the passionate Cagliari support, the Rossoblu in the red and blue of the club, so target them for the fullest atmosphere. Packed and loud for a big fixture, they generate a noise beyond the small capacity. The covered main stand is calmer and better for a clear central view of the play.
Visiting supporters are housed in a small designated section, with an allocation of only around four hundred seats, one of the smallest in Serie A, reflecting the compact size of the ground. Away fans should book early, as the allocation is limited. The exact section and allocation vary by fixture, so check the details for your specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes, to a degree. The ground has provision for wheelchair users with step-free access to the relevant areas, though as a small temporary stadium the facilities are modest compared with a large modern arena, and the planned permanent ground should improve this. Contact the club before the match to confirm the seating and arrange it in advance. Taxis give an easy option from the centre.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically around an hour or more before a Serie A match. Given the small size of the ground the entrances are less crowded than at a major stadium, but with a bag search and an identity check it is still wise to arrive in good time, especially for the visit of a big club. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
Inside the small ground the catering is modest, with basic snacks and drinks. The real draw is the food of Cagliari and Sardinia, one of Italy's most distinctive island cuisines, from carasau bread and culurgiones to roast suckling pig and fresh seafood, matched with wines such as Cannonau and Vermentino. Eat in the old town or by the port before the match.
Gigi Riva is the greatest figure in Cagliari's history, the legendary forward who spent his whole career with the club and inspired them to their only Serie A title in 1970. He remained for decades the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team and is revered across Italy. The club's planned new stadium is set to be named in his honour.
The Sardegna Arena was built quickly in 2017 as a temporary home after the club's old ground, the Stadio Sant'Elia, was deemed no longer fit for purpose, and it stands on the site beside the former stadium. It was always intended as a stopgap while a new permanent ground is built, so it is a compact, modern stadium rather than a grand permanent arena.
Face-value Serie A prices at Cagliari are affordable by the standards of the biggest European leagues, but the small capacity keeps demand high, so the visits of the big clubs sell out fast and can be expensive on resale. Resale prices depend on the opponent, with the giants of Italian football the most sought after. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative.
The centre of Cagliari is the best base, around the hilltop old town of Castello and the Marina district by the port, with plenty of accommodation and an easy bus, taxi or walk out to the ground. Staying central puts you among the trattorias, bars and sights of a beautiful island capital, near the station and the ferry port for onward travel around Sardinia.
Cagliari issue tickets digitally for most fixtures, and Italian rules often tie the ticket to a named holder with photo identification checked on entry. Load the ticket, charge your phone and bring your identification before you arrive. Follow the delivery and entry instructions supplied with your order, as the requirements can vary by fixture.
Cagliari won the Serie A title in 1970, their only Scudetto, a remarkable achievement for an island club, inspired by the legendary Gigi Riva. It remains the greatest day in the history of Sardinian football and one of the celebrated title wins in the Italian game, a source of enduring pride to the club and the island.
The ground is by the sea in Sant'Elia, so the attractions are along the waterfront and in the centre of Cagliari. The hilltop old town of Castello with its towers and views, the Marina district and the port, the long Poetto beach and the flamingos of the nearby lagoon all reward a matchday trip, with the wider coast and countryside of Sardinia a little further out.
Yes. The Sardegna Arena was always intended as temporary, and plans for a new permanent stadium on the site of the old Stadio Sant'Elia have advanced, with funding approved and the project moving towards construction after years of delay. The new ground is set to be named after the club's great legend Gigi Riva. When it is ready, the temporary Sardegna Arena is expected to be removed.
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Sources: Cagliari Calcio (cagliaricalcio.com), club matchday guidance, Cagliari city and CTM transport information, and stadium reference records such as StadiumDB and Wikipedia.