The Santagiulia arena in Milan finally opened for the women's ice hockey preliminary match between Italy and France, despite significant construction delays. The venue was not fully completed, with half-built concession stands, dangling wires, and leaking water pipes in the press room. However, the ice sheet was ready, and 12,000 seats were filled for the game.
Construction dust was so thick that shoe treads left outlines on the concrete, and workers placed plastic mats in urinals during breaks as toilets were unfinished. Soap dispensers were empty, drink machine pumps were not wired, and escalator lighting was temporary. Despite these issues, the International Olympic Committee's executive director Christophe Dubi acknowledged that not every space was finished.
Ice technician Don Moffatt, who worked 12-hour shifts, said ten days before the game that there was a 50/50 chance of having playable ice. The team succeeded, and Italy, the lowest-ranked team in the women's competition, won 4-1 against France. The crowd was enthusiastic, creating a lively atmosphere.
The arena is part of a larger redevelopment project designed by British firm David Chipperfield, including 3,400 new homes, a park, and a shopping mall. The hockey rink will later be repurposed as a concert hall. Television cameras were positioned to avoid showing the surrounding industrial wasteland.
