Olympics

Beating the buzzer to build Milano Santagiulia arena

OLYMPIC OBSERVERS | Student perspectives on the business, politics and culture of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

An construction site showing mud and dirt around a new builiding
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
Milano Santagiulana arena on December 21, 2025. Image used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Milano Santagiulana arena on December 21, 2025. Image used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
By

Dany Kim

They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Milano Santagiulia arena, host to the hockey competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is no exception. Construction delays have sparked much pre-Olympic debate over whether the rink will be ready for puck drop—especially with no backup plan in place.

Recurring roadblocks in Olympic infrastructure

Delays for Olympic construction are not new. It took three years in Sochi and two in PyeongChang to complete construction of the hockey arenas for the 2014 and 2018 Games. In 2006, Italy hosted the Winter Olympics in Torino and faced similar challenges. Asbestos was discovered during arena construction, and a decision was made to move the arena to a different location. 

Fast forward 20 years and the Milano Cortina Games landed in the midst of its own race-against-time controversy to complete the arena before the first Olympic hockey game.

The challenge of rising costs and future ambitions

Budgetary issues delayed the construction of the arena. The war in Ukraine made it harder and longer to acquire the raw material needed to build the arena. According to Alessandro Giungi, a councillor representing the city of Milan locally and the head of the city’s Olympic Committee, the cost of the arena spiked up 40 per cent, from 210 million to 292 million euros. This slowed construction, as negotiations for additional funding between the private German company funder, CTS Eventim, the Italian government and the local organizing committee spanned from 2022 to 2023.

Another challenge is that the arena is planned as a multi-purpose venue, with engineers and architects trying their best to ensure that the facility will be used after the Olympics. Arup and David Chipperfield Architects designed the building to reflect a historical Roman amphitheatre with a modern twist. According to Arup, it “will be Italy’s largest indoor venue”. The 10,000 square foot arena that can hold up to 16,000 spectators and can host indoor events such as hockey and basketball as well as outdoor events such as festivals and concerts.

Despite the challenges, Andrea Varnier, CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, who oversees the entire operations in Italy,  provided a voice of positivity following the test events in the arena on January 11. 

“For us, these have been very important days. We never hid the fact that it was one of the venues that worried us the most, so this test event was very important.​... There are still two games to play, but we feel we can say that we are very satisfied,” said Varnier, in a story published on Olympics.com January 15, 2026. 

A hockey game in the Milano Santagiulia arena during the Italian Cup and IHL Serie A finals.
The Italian Cup and IHL Serie A Finals served as a key test event at the Milano Santagiulia Arena on January 11, ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. IMAGE USED UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0.

Game on in Milan

Olympic construction delays are an easy target for debate. But there were legitimate roadblocks that the city and builders faced, no different than previous Olympics. Hockey players from each nation will still represent their respective country with pride in the venue.

The successful puck drop on Feb. 5 of the preliminary round in women’s ice hockey —where Italy faced off against France—should reassure people that were skeptical whether Milano Santagiulia would be ready in time, even if it came down to the buzzer. 

About this series

This article is part of a collaborative series produced by students in KPER 4110: The Olympics and the Global Sporting Event within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba.

Throughout the Winter 2026 term, students are exploring the complex intersection of elite athletics, geopolitical influences and the socio-economic impact of the Olympic movement. By analyzing the Milano Cortina 2026 Games in real-time, this series provides a hands-on opportunity for students to connect classroom learning and the global sporting reality.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the student author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Manitoba or the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management.

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