The Milan-Cortina Winter Games face a potential issue as the primary ice hockey arena may not be completed in time, leaving no backup facility available. Construction delays at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the proposed venue for NHL players returning to the Olympics after a long hiatus, have pushed the completion timeline close to the wire. A recent test event had to be relocated, with new test events now scheduled for Jan. 9-11.
Andrea Francisi, Milan Cortina’s chief games operations officer, emphasized that there is no alternative plan if the arena is not ready on time. The focus is on ensuring flawless organization at Santagiulia for the upcoming competitions. The inaugural Olympic hockey match at the arena is set for Feb. 5, featuring a women’s preliminary round between Italy and France, a day before the opening ceremonies.
In case of any delays, the defending champion Canada will play against Finland on Feb. 5 at the secondary Rho Ice Hockey Arena, located in a transformed pavilion at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center. Typically, Olympic venues undergo testing at least a year before hosting medal events to ensure readiness not only of the playing surface but also of facilities such as concession stands and restrooms within the new arena.
While a specific handover date for the venue is yet to be determined, Francisi expressed confidence in the progress and collaboration with construction companies to expedite the work. Daily updates and close coordination are in place to monitor the situation, with optimism that the arena will be ready for the Olympics as planned. The men’s hockey tournament is scheduled from Feb. 11-22, followed by the women’s tournament from Feb. 5-19.
