Leaked footage shows Milan Olympic arena in shocking state

Images from Milan, shared by Darren Dreger, offer a striking look at the current state of the main arena set to host hockey at the 2026 Olympics.

Given the extensive construction still underway, it’s hard not to notice that the project has entered its most critical phase… and very late.

The situation has not gone unnoticed by the NHL. Commissioner Gary Bettman recently admitted that the delays surrounding the construction of the main rink are causing serious concern.

Without unnecessary dramatization, he nonetheless acknowledged that the pace of progress is far from reassuring. According to him, in all previous editions of the Olympic Games, whether using temporary or permanent facilities, the league had never been so close to the start date without the ice being ready. This is precisely why the NHL is exercising caution.

The quality of the ice surface remains another sensitive issue. The NHL has already expressed reservations on this point and has decided to send its own specialists to Italy to ensure the ice meets the safety and performance standards required for top-level competition. This is a major concern, especially in an Olympic tournament where the world’s best players will be competing.

With the clock ticking, concerns have been growing at the league level. When asked last week by Matt Larkin about the real percentage chance that NHL players might not attend the Games, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly didn’t mince words.

“Depends on the percentage you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed,” Daly said. “If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics.”

As for the schedule, authorities are trying to be reassuring. Construction on the main rink is expected to be completed by February 2. The women’s tournament is set to begin a few days later, on February 5, while the men’s competition is scheduled for February 11–22. The deadlines are extremely tight, leaving very little room for error in the event of unforeseen delays.