Leaked construction footage offers first look at Italy’s Olympic hockey arena

Leaked Footage Raises Concerns Over Milan Olympic Hockey Arena Ahead of 2026 Games

Leaked video has emerged showing ongoing construction at the planned 16,000-seat Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the primary venue for ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Originally scheduled for completion months ago, the arena has already missed its planned pre-tournament test events, including a U-20 World Championship, which had to be moved to the secondary Rho Fiera Arena.

According to reports, the arena’s rinks are not yet compliant with Olympic standards, measuring roughly three feet shorter than required. Construction only began in 2023, despite Milan winning the Olympic bid in 2019, leaving organizers racing to meet the February deadline. There is currently no clear timeline for when the ice will be installed or if test events will be possible before the Games.

NHL Monitoring Closely
The NHL is closely tracking the situation as it prepares to send players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Commissioner Gary Bettman has acknowledged receiving “constant reassurances” from the IOC and IIHF but admitted that progress has been hard to verify. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stressed the stakes bluntly: “If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics.”

While the NHL says the rink-size issue does not pose a safety risk, the ongoing delays and logistical challenges have made the Santagiulia Arena the biggest wildcard in Milan’s Olympic preparations. With structural work still unfinished and test events postponed, the clock is ticking for organizers to ensure the venue is ready for February 2026.