NHL: Olympic Arena at Risk, Could Play on Untested Ice

The return of NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics has generated great expectation, but the construction of the main ice hockey stadium in Milan-Cortina faces significant challenges.

Delays in the Construction of the Santagiulia Stadium

Local organizers have confirmed that the test event scheduled for December at the Santagiulia stadium, with a capacity of 16,000 spectators, has been moved to a smaller arena. A new test event has not yet been scheduled, which raises questions about the availability of the main stadium for the start of the Olympic competition. The CEO of the Milan-Cortina local organizing committee, Andrea Varnier, acknowledged that the schedule is tight, but that they were aware of it. The situation has generated concern, especially considering that the first match in the main stadium could be the women’s preliminary round on February 5, a day before the opening ceremony.

The schedule is very tight, but we knew it.

Andrea Varnier, CEO of the local organizing committee

The NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, has expressed his concern about the progress of construction over the past two years. Bettman emphasized that the responsibility lies with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and expects them to fulfill their promises to deliver a first-class facility.

We have had concerns over the last two years about the progress of the track, both tracks, but mainly the main one, but it is the IOC’s responsibility. We hope they will keep all the promises to have a facility that is, from a competitive point of view, first class.

Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner

The test event, which was originally scheduled to take place at the Santagiulia, was part of the U20 world championship from December 8 to 14. This event was moved to the Rho Fiera hockey venue, which is being prepared inside a convention center on the outskirts of Milan and will host secondary matches during the Olympic Games. Traditionally, new Olympic venues are tested at least one year before hosting medal events. In the case of a large hockey stadium, testing focuses not only on the ice rink, but also on the functionality of concession stands, restrooms, and other facilities.

The Santagiulia stadium, built by a private company, is intended to become the largest indoor stadium in Italy. After the Olympic Games, the possibility of hosting the ATP Tennis Finals is being considered. Despite the delays, tickets for the events at the Santagiulia stadium are already on sale at high prices. Tickets for the men’s gold medal match on February 22, the last day of the Games, reach 1,400 euros (more than 1,600 dollars), exceeding the cost of any other sporting event at the Milan-Cortina Games, with the exception of the opening and closing ceremonies. The men’s ice hockey tournament is scheduled from February 11 to 22, while the women’s tournament will be held from February 5 to 19.