Organisers of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are attempting to quell concerns over sluggish local ticket demand in Italy, with approximately 650,000 seats still available for the February 2026 competition. This comes amidst ongoing construction delays at a key hockey venue and unresolved questions about seating arrangements for spectators and media.
"That's Normal": Organisers Defend Ticket Sales Pace
Andrea Varnier, CEO of the local organising committee, addressed the sales figures at the start of the Olympic torch relay. He described the current level of interest as "normal," suggesting that local fans traditionally engage closer to the event. Varnier expressed confidence that the torch relay's commencement would significantly boost public awareness and drive purchases.
So far, a reported 850,000 tickets have been sold. This number was partly bolstered by a Black Friday promotion offering a 20% discount. The campaign also included an incentive of lift passes for a ski area in Lombardy for those purchasing combined Olympics and Paralympics tickets. Recently, more tickets for high-profile events like the February 6 opening ceremony at San Siro stadium and the men's hockey gold medal game on February 22 in Milan were released.
"We had some tickets on the market a couple of days ago and they were sold out in just a couple of hours," Varnier noted, pointing to this as evidence of underlying demand. He also highlighted strong merchandise sales at the newly opened Milan Cortina store in Piazza del Duomo as a positive indicator.
Venue Delays and a Size Controversy Cloud Preparations
However, significant logistical challenges persist. The construction of the new 16,000-seat Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on the outskirts of Milan has fallen behind schedule. A planned test event for the arena has been postponed until January. Varnier acknowledged the delays but asserted that work is now progressing at the necessary pace, stating unequivocally, "It has to be ready."
Complicating matters further, Team Canada men's assistant coach Peter DeBoer has publicly claimed that the arena's ice sheet will be smaller than standard NHL dimensions by about three or four feet. This is notable because, despite the tournament being in Europe, initial plans intended to use NHL specifications, which are slightly smaller than European ice rinks. This discrepancy has added to the growing concerns from players, fans, and officials.
In the meantime, the secondary hockey venue set up at the Rho Fiera convention centre will undergo testing next week by hosting under-20 world championship games.
A Distributed Ceremony and Hopes for a Turin-Like Atmosphere
The 2026 Games are adopting an innovative and logistically complex approach to the opening ceremony. Athlete parades will be held simultaneously in four locations: Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. Varnier called this distributed model "quite an effort" and a "first time ever," emphasising the positive message of involving the mountain villages directly. He reported that the concept has been well-received by National Olympic Committees and the local communities involved.
Organisers are undoubtedly hoping to recapture the electric atmosphere of the 2006 Turin Winter Games, the last Olympics Italy hosted. There was an expectation of pent-up demand following the largely spectator-free 2022 Beijing Winter Games due to the pandemic. While ticket sales are progressing, the combination of venue delays, a controversial rink size, and the sheer scale of the unsold inventory presents a formidable challenge with just under two years to go.
