NHL says test event at unfinished Milan-Cortina ice hockey arena was ‘good trial run’
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A test event for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics taking place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Jan 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- NHL and NHLPA are monitoring the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena's completion for the Milano-Cortina Olympics after construction delays.
- A test event revealed ongoing construction issues, including a hole in the ice, but provided "important insight into the current status".
- NHL players are expected to compete in the Olympics for the first time since 2014, increasing scrutiny on venue readiness.
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MILAN - The NHL and the union representing its players have said they were pleased with a test event held over the weekend at the main ice hockey venue being used for February’s Milano-Cortina Olympics and will continue to monitor progress on the remaining work.
The unfinished Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, one of two venues hosting the ice hockey competitions during the Feb 6-22 Olympics, has attracted attention in recent weeks with developers rushing to complete it in time for the competition.
The NHL had a delegation at the arena over the weekend during a test event featuring Italy’s top teams. The opening game of the event was stopped briefly during the first period when a hole emerged in front of one of the nets, though that is not unusual with new ice.
In a joint statement on Jan 12, the National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Association said they expect the work necessary to address all remaining issues at the venue will continue “around the clock.”
“The NHL and NHLPA will continue to monitor the situation, standing ready to consult and advise on the work being done to ensure that the local organising committee, the IOC, and the IIHF deliver a tournament and playing conditions befitting the world’s best players,” the statement read.
“We were pleased that this weekend’s event was a good trial run and provided important insight into the current status.”
There has been extra attention on the venue as elite players from the NHL are due to compete at the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games.
The original test event at Santagiulia had been scheduled for December but was postponed due to construction delays.
The inside of the venue remains under construction, with hospitality areas and locker rooms yet to be completed. The media section has also been set up on a temporary basis.
The women’s ice hockey competition begins on Feb 5, while the men’s event - which due to the presence of NHL players is one of the marquee events of the global sporting showcase - starts on Feb 11. REUTERS
