David Chipperfield ice hockey arena set to be unfinished for Winter Olympics

International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif has suggested that the David Chipperfield-designed Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will not be fully complete in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which begins next month.

Speaking at the ice hockey World Junior Championship, Tardif reassured journalists that the tournament would take place in the building, but did not guarantee it will be fully complete.

"We are going to have a tournament in this building," said Tardif.

"The infrastructure for the ice hockey – I'm talking about the dressing room, I'm talking about the practice area and the field of play – that's going to be ready. We can be confident on that – you are not going to go to Milano for nothing."

"Not exactly what I expected"

However, he said that the seating capacity for the games would be "a little bit short" at 11,800. According to the Olympic website, the planned capacity for the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the tournament was 14,000.

"[It] will be not exactly what I expected, because for a tournament of the level that we have organised 11,800 is a little bit short, but that is what it is."

Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is in the Santa Giulia district in the southeast of Milan, and is set to host the men's and women's hockey games during the Winter Olympics.

Construction of the arena began in 2023, with David Chipperfield Architects stating that the arena was planned to complete at the end of 2025.

Delays to the construction of the arena have been well publicised, leading to the Olympic organisers warning in November that there was "no plan B" if the venue is not ready in time.

An International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) U20 world championship tournament was planned to take place at the stadium in December as a test event, but was moved to another venue.

However, the arena's operator, CTS Eventim, issued a statement assuring that the venue would be ready to host events during the tournament.

CTS Eventim has been contacted by Dezeen, but did not respond in time for publication.

NHL concerned over rink's size

Venues are often completed months or even years before Olympics take place to allow for test events and safety inspections. This was highlighted by National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman at a press conference in December 2025.

"In all of the prior Olympics, whether they built permanent or temporary facilities, it's never been this late for a completion and the building of ice, and so that's why we are cautious," he said.

The NHL, which is allowing its players to compete at the Olympics for the first time since 2014, has expressed concern about the quality of the ice and the dimensions of the rink, which will not match the standard size used in the NHL.

The Olympic ice rink will be 60 metres by 26 metres, which is slightly shorter and wider than an NHL rink. According to sports website ESPN, this does not adhere with an agreement made between the NHL and IIHF.

However, the dimensions are in line with IIHF regulations and the same size as the rink used at previous Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

Last month, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that the league's ice experts were being sent to Milan.

"If the players believe that ice isn't safe, then we're not going to play," said Daly. "It's as simple as that."

"We're basically moving everybody there to try to help get this done in a way that's acceptable for NHL athletes. And I'm cautiously optimistic it will be fruitful."

The opening ice hockey game at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games is scheduled for 5 February.

Another building created for the event was the 2026 Winter Olympics Athletes' Village in Porta Romana by SOM, which will be turned into student housing after the games.

The image is by Onirism Studio.

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