Organisers of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have confirmed there is no backup stadium option if the main ice hockey arena fails to be completed on schedule, raising concerns about potential disruptions to one of the Games' marquee events.
Construction Race Against Time
The Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, a brand new 16,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Milan, has fallen significantly behind its construction timeline. The situation has become so tight that completion is now expected to go right down to the wire, according to officials.
Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer for Milan Cortina, delivered a stark assessment when speaking to the Associated Press on Saturday. "There is no plan B," Francisi stated unequivocally. "So necessarily we have to be able to organise the competition in an impeccable manner at Santa Giulia."
Test Events Disrupted and Delayed
The construction delays have already forced organisers to move a scheduled test event from the Santa Giulia Arena. New test events have now been scheduled for January 9-11, leaving minimal time for adjustments before the Games begin in February 2026.
This timing creates significant pressure, as new Olympic venues typically undergo testing at least a year before hosting medal events. The testing process for a major hockey arena extends beyond just the ice surface, requiring comprehensive checks of concession stands, bathrooms and all other facilities within the brand new venue.
Olympic Schedule Hangs in Balance
The first Olympic hockey match scheduled for the troubled arena is a women's preliminary round game on February 5, 2026, just one day before the opening ceremony. The men's Olympic hockey tournament is set to run from February 11-22, while the women's competition spans February 5-19.
Francisi acknowledged there is currently "no precise date" for when the venue will be handed over to local organisers. However, he expressed cautious optimism about the current progress. "There are daily updates in the sense that our team is there working every day," he explained.
"The companies which are involved with the building of the facility have sped up their work significantly. We're monitoring all that daily together with them, there's great collaboration between us, we're creating a coordinated plan between their work and our preparations and for the moment we're healthily optimistic, but 100% we'll do it."
The successful completion of the arena carries additional significance as it marks the return of NHL players to Olympic competition for the first time in over a decade, adding to the international spotlight on the venue's readiness.
