PISA SC 3 V COSENZA 1- ARENA GARIBALDI - SERIE B - 5th NOVEMBER 2022

Pisa Sporting Club are another team that has spent the majority of its existence in the middle leagues of Italian football, reaching Serie A on only  8 occasions, the most recent  following their runners up spot in Serie B in 2024-25.  Like other clubs, they have had their share of financial troubles, suffering administration in 1995 and condemned to the top regional league E, and in 2009 having to re form 100 years after their initial formation following more irregularities. After a year of being totally exlcuded from Italian football they were placed in Serie D and their rise stated again, winning D in 2010-11.

Getting there - Relatively straightforward.  Arena Garibaldi  is a 15-20 minute stroll from the central station  through the main city shops and  restaurants and across the River to the north of the city. We were staying in Florence so had an hours train ride to Pisa, return ticket 15 Euro.

If you have never seen the Tower before its well worth the 10 minute   detour on the way from the town to stadium as its quite a lean.  If you miss it though,  you can see it from the Gradinata stand at the stadium. There are a number of bars and restaurants right by the tower to take a breather before the game which is recommended as its only beer or espresso at the ground.

Getting in - The ticket site Pisa use is Ticketone. Prices range from 15.50 euro on the Curva Sud home of the Ultras, to 50 euro in the covered main stand (Tribuna Superiore). We went in the Gradinata stand / open seating area  opposite the main stand and paid 24 euro. 

What its like - We went on a very warm November afternoon for their Serie B match v Cozenza.  The stadium holds just under 15,000 and for this game it was half full. The atmosphere was great by a vocal home support, the sun was shining and what better way to spend Saturday afternoon supping a few beers watching the home team win 3-1.   The Arena Garibaldi is over a hundred years old and despite some upgrades over the years, is crumbling a little.  Of the stadiums ive been to in Italy, this one reminded me of 80's football in England, without the sun.  I liked it.