With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo set to begin in less than a month, the race to complete the primary hockey venue is reaching a critical stage. The National Hockey League, whose players are returning to the Olympic stage for the first time in over a decade, is keeping a close watch on the final construction push at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan.
Arena Completion Down to the Wire
The new Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena remains under construction as the Games approach. Reports confirm the venue will not be fully finished when the Olympic torch is lit next month. The finalized seating capacity will be just over 11,000, which is smaller than initially planned. Furthermore, the ice surface itself will not be a standard NHL-sized sheet; it will be slightly wider and shorter.
Additional temporary measures are being implemented to ensure the Games can proceed. Teams will use mobile trailers as dressing rooms, and plans for fan amenities and VIP areas are still being finalized. The situation is so tight that a previously scheduled test event in December was cancelled because the rink was not ready.
Test Event Provides Glimmer of Hope
This weekend, however, offers a crucial opportunity to assess progress. A series of seven games dubbed the Milano Hockey Finals is serving as the sole test event before the Olympics. One of the participating teams, Kaltern/Caldaro, features Italian player Florian Wieser, who has shared images on social media showing installed ice, a scoreboard being prepared, and seats in the stands.
"The glass around the rink needs to have its protective plastic covering removed, but seats are installed in the stands and the lights work," noted observers. The presence of this event is a positive sign after the earlier cancellation.
NHL Leadership Issues a Clear Ultimatum
The NHL has made its position on player safety unequivocally clear. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated last month that if players deem the ice conditions unsafe, they will not participate in the Olympic tournament. This statement places immense pressure on organizers to deliver a competition-ready facility.
When asked for an update on Thursday, Daly expressed tempered confidence. "I am cautiously optimistic based on what we know and have been told," Daly said via email. "But I will know far more early next week, once we see how this weekend’s test event goes in Milan."
Officials from both the NHL and the NHL Players' Association are on-site in Milan to monitor the weekend's games. According to reports from ESPN, there is no concrete "Plan B" venue if the arena fails to meet standards. The women's hockey tournament is scheduled for the Milano Rho Arena, a converted trade fair complex, but the men's tournament is tied to Santa Giulia.
The coming days will be decisive. The success of this weekend's test event will determine whether the long-awaited return of NHL stars to the Olympic ice will proceed as planned or face an unprecedented last-minute hurdle.
