Unipol Arena

Unipol Arena (formerly Palasport Casalecchio), which opened in the early 1990s, is one of the main indoor concert venues in Bologna, Italy, with a capacity of up to 20,000 people.

Names like Smashing Pumpkins, blink-182, Roger Waters, The Cure, Deep Purple, Ligabue, Måneskin, Greta Van Fleet, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, and Tame Impala have all played here.

Since the arena is outside Bologna’s historic center, the main thing to plan around for first-time visitors is the logistics of getting there. The good news is that the venue is built with this in mind: it sits right next to a train station and a large shopping and dining area.

What it’s like to see a show at Unipol Arena

The crowd can watch from the floor or from two tiers of numbered seating. The view of the stage from the floor and from the side seats is very good. Entry and access to the different sections tend to be easy.

That said, the seats themselves are small and legroom is fairly tight, which can make things a bit uncomfortable. The restrooms are another weak point at this venue. They’re dated, and some sections have very few stalls available. Be prepared to be patient, and don’t expect them to always be spotless.

If you want to eat or drink something before the show, the arena has nine bars inside. Outside, though, there are also plenty of restaurants and food trucks, as well as the Gran Reno shopping mall with even more options (especially handy on rainy or very sunny days) just a few minutes’ walk from the arena.

Unipol Arena is a modular space, so the section layout can change quite a bit depending on the show.

Unipol Arena Bologna seating plan

Since the spaces are modular and can change from show to show, always remember to check the specific map published for the event you’re attending.

Unipol Arena is divided into the following sections:

• Parterre in Piedi (standing floor)
• 1° Anello Ovest (Tier 1 West)
• 1° Anello Est (Tier 1 East)
• 2° Anello Ovest (Tier 2 West)
• 2° Anello Est (Tier 2 East)
• Gradinata Frontale (grandstand facing the stage)

The side tiers are split into 1 and 2 (by height), East and West (by which side of the stage), and blocks A through E. Some seats may have limited visibility, and this is always noted at the point of purchase. All of these seats are numbered.

For the grandstand facing the stage (Gradinata Frontale), seats are also always numbered. Just be careful when buying, though — in some of the front rows, the view is through protective glass.

There may be extra seating section both on the sides and facing the stage, made up of movable seating placed over part of the floor area.

How to get to Unipol Arena

Unipol Arena is located at Via Gino Cervi, 2, in Casalecchio di Reno, on the outskirts of Bologna, Italy.

By car

The arena has its own paid parking lot (entrance on Via Fausto Coppi), with 5,000 spots, for cars and motorcycles only. There’s no space for trailers or camper vans, and it’s not permitted to stay overnight or leave your vehicle past the event’s ending time.

The average cost is €10-15, and spots are generally first-come, first-served. For some shows, though, you may be able to reserve a spot in advance through Ticketone.

There are also other parking options at nearby businesses, such as the Gran Reno shopping mall and the Ikea store, which tend to stay open later.

By bus

On show days, a special round-trip bus line (TPER 975) runs between Bologna’s Central Station and Unipol Arena. The pickup point in Bologna is in front of the central train station, on Viale Pietramellara, near the pharmacy.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the central bus station (Autostazione di Bologna) or online.

If you’d rather use regular bus routes, there are also options departing from Bologna. Lines 83, 94, 671, and 686 will drop you at the “Ceretolo Vivaldi” stop, 50 meters from the arena.

For large international shows, there may also be bus excursions from other Italian cities, such as those run by Eventinbus.

By train

Casalecchio Palasport station sits right next to the arena and is served by the suburban line connecting Bologna Centrale to Vignola.

The trip from Bologna’s Central Station (Bologna Centrale) takes about 20 minutes.

You’ll likely only be able to use the train to get to the show, not back — this line generally isn’t running by the time events at Unipol Arena wrap up. In that case, you’ll need to take the bus back instead.

If you’re coming from other Italian cities, you’ll need to catch a train to Bologna’s Central Station first, then transfer to the suburban line to Casalecchio Palasport.

Hotels Near the Unipol Arena Bologna

Unipol Arena is outside Bologna’s city center, but in an area with easy access to public transport. Staying nearby can be a good option if you want to walk to and from the venue and soak up the atmosphere as musicians and fans arrive throughout the day — though there are very few accommodation options in the immediate area. A better alternative is staying in central Bologna, near the train station, and using the special show-day bus to get to and from the venue easily.

What you can (and can’t) bring into Unipol Arena

Not allowed: suitcases, rolling luggage, or backpacks larger than a sheet of A4 paper (the maximum size accepted is roughly that of a small bag or fanny pack — anything bigger needs to go into the coat/bag check); spray cans of any kind (repellent, deodorant, sunscreen); vuvuzelas/air horns; weapons, explosives, fireworks, flares, rocks, knives, or other sharp objects; chains; alcoholic beverages; drugs or flammable materials; cans, glass bottles, metal canteens, or plastic bottles larger than 0.5 liters (bottles up to 0.5 liters are accepted, without a cap); any type of food (case-by-case exceptions can be arranged directly with the venue); animals of any size; helmets; umbrellas and walking sticks; musical instruments; laser pens or pointers; drones; audio/video recording equipment; power banks of any size; cameras of any kind, camcorders, GoPros, iPads, tablets, and laptops; bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, and hoverboards.

Allowed: small bags or fanny packs no larger than a sheet of A4 paper, as long as any larger items are left at the coat/bag check; plastic water bottles up to 0.5 liters are allowed, as long as they’re uncapped.

The security staff may reject any other item they consider inappropriate or dangerous, even if it isn’t listed here.

Coat/bag check

Unipol Arena has coat/bag check points at the main entrances, but the service isn’t always available for every event. It’s worth confirming availability and pricing directly with the venue by emailing info@unipolarena.it before the show.

Common mistakes to avoid at Unipol Arena

Bringing a large backpack without knowing the coat/bag check rule: only A4-sized items are allowed through directly. Anything bigger needs to be checked, and that service is located outside the arena and isn’t always available.

Waiting until the last minute to buy a ticket for the special bus: since it’s an exclusive line that only runs on show days, it’s worth securing your ticket ahead of time, either online or at the central bus station.

Is it worth seeing a show at Unipol Arena Bologna?

For major international tours, Unipol Arena is currently one of Italy’s leading stages. It offers a modern setup (aside from the restrooms, which could use an upgrade), good sightlines from both the floor and the upper tiers, and arrival logistics specifically designed for event days — which is a big help for anyone traveling from out of town.

Frequently asked questions about Unipol Arena

What is the capacity of Unipol Arena?

Unipol Arena holds up to 20,000 people for concerts, making it one of the largest indoor venues in Italy.

What’s the best section at Unipol Arena?

It depends on what you’re after: the floor offers more proximity to the stage but is quite long, while the tiers with numbered seating guarantee a good view even from the side seats.

How early should I arrive for a show at Unipol Arena?

Gates generally open 2 hours before the event starts. That said, timing can differ for certain specific events, so it’s worth double-checking.