Milan’s much-maligned Olympic hockey arena looking better than ever
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games start this week, but worries continue to swirl around the status of the main hockey arena.
Whether it’s funky rink proportions, unfinished dressing rooms, or a strange-looking scoreboard, nothing about the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena’s construction has been without question. Things seemed to have ramped up in the last month or so, and with the first Olympic hockey games scheduled for this Thursday, we’re about to get answers.
More videos have been posted from the arena this weekend, giving fans a better look at how the facility will look when things get underway.
Sam Farnsworth, a reporter from Utah, shared a video on Saturday of what the rink is expected to look like throughout the majority of the Olympics.
My first look at Santagiulia Ice Arena, home for Olympic hockey here in Milano. #TusksUp #NHL @kslsports @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/fIdGZJjE9q
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) February 1, 2026
For the most part, this looks pretty solid considering how big the fears were less than a month ago. The main portion of the rink seems to be nearing completion, although there appears to be more construction at the far end of the rink left to complete.
According to Farnsworth, the blue seats seen in this video are expected to be temporary seating and are not permanent fixtures of the building. He also admitted he does not know how far along the dressing rooms are.
Hockey personality John Shannon was able to take fans closer to the ice in a video of his own this weekend. He showed off the rink’s smaller neutral zone, a newly-installed centre-ice logo, as well as some construction around the ice surface.
Glimpse inside the main hockey venue for the Olympic Winter Games. pic.twitter.com/5prNJCWt1g
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) January 31, 2026
As everyone focuses on the inside of the arena, not a lot has been shown about what the exterior of the rink will look like. An X user shared a video of the outside of the Olympic facility that appears to have some extensive video capabilities.
It’s certainly a bit of a futuristic look.
Olympic ice hockey arena – View from the outside. @TSN_Sports @NHL @Olympics pic.twitter.com/1Gkm95tnZA
— Mišan Knedla (@KnedlaMisan) January 30, 2026
There is no turning back now for players, as the Canadian women’s team has already made the trip to Italy. The Canadian men’s team is expected to follow suit later this week, once the NHL goes on its Olympic pause starting on Friday.
While the rink looks better, the true test will come when the puck drops.