Cagliari get final approval for new stadium after 10 years | OneFootball

Cagliari have finally received approval to begin building their new stadium, which will be named after club and Italy legend Gigi Riva, after 10 years of red tape.

The project has been over a decade in the making, and requires the demolition of the now derelict Stadio Sant’Elia, to build a new venue on the same ground.

It is hoped that the project will be completed in time to act as a host city for the EURO 2032 tournament, which will be shared between Italy and Turkey.

Cagliari get go-ahead for new stadium after a decade

ITALY – OCTOBER 19:  A detailed view of the corner flag inside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Bologna FC 1909 on October 19, 2025 Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

“We had been waiting for this news for 10 years,” announced Mayor of Cagliari Massimo Zedda.

“Today there was a positive conclusion to the decisive conference of services, which approved the new stadium.”

This includes all the outstanding issues on environmental impact and roads leading to the venue.

The new stadium will have 25,000 seats, with the possibility of expanding to up to 30,000.

It can also host concerts and other events on top of football matches.

ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Emil Holm of Bologna scores his goal 0-1 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Bologna FC 1909 on October 19, 2025 in Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Cagliari abandoned the Stadio Sant’Elia in 2012, when it was considered unsuitable to host modern events and badly in need of reconstruction.

Some adjustments were made to keep it going with a reduced capacity and the plan for the new stadium was first presented in December 2015.

The Sant’Elia was eventually locked down and left to rot in June 2017, and ever since then Cagliari have played their matches at the Unipol Domus.

This is a temporary structure set up in a car park close to the Stadio Sant’Elia.