Serie A club Cagliari Calcio have achieved a major milestone after the city council granted the decisive approval for the construction of their new stadium—marking the end of more than a decade of planning and red‑tape. The project, set to be named after club legend Gigi Riva, is positioned as a key element in Sardinia’s preparation for the 2032 UEFA European Championship.
The assembled development plan calls for a modern facility with an initial capacity of 25,000 seats, expandable to 30,000, that will serve both sporting events and mass‑audience concerts. While earlier estimates placed construction costs at around €125 million, updated budget figures now suggest a larger total, with the region committing an initial €50 million across 2023–26 and the remainder to be covered via private investment and club co‑financing.
For Cagliari, who have played at the temporarily repurposed Unipol Domus since leaving their landmark Sant’Elia ground in 2017, the stadium represents a long‑awaited homecoming. Mayor Massimo Zedda stated: “We have waited 10 years for this moment,” capturing the sentiment of the region and its supporters. With the venue now formally approved, the next steps involve launching the public tender for construction and securing the technical building permits for demolition of the old stadium site.
The stadium will go beyond football. Design briefs already include multipurpose spaces such as a museum, wellness centre, retail zoning and concert‑capable acoustics—reflecting modern expectations that major stadiums serve as social and entertainment hubs rather than match‑day venues alone. Plans also highlight the facility’s role in Sardinia’s bid to host games during Euro 2032, bolstering its strategic importance.
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From the club’s perspective, the naming rights decision to honour Gigi Riva underscores deep roots in local identity and football heritage. Riva remains a symbol for Cagliari and Sardinian sport, and attaching his name to the new ground helps reinforce club‑city ties.
While construction timelines remain ambitious—with tender award and ground‑breaking targeted for 2025‑26—the formal approval marks the project’s transition from promise into motion. For Cagliari fans, the long wait may soon yield a new era and a venue worthy of their ambitions.