sports
February 5, 2026
Pipe leaks and puck joy: Milan’s winter wasteland comes alive for ice hockey opener
The hosts managed to just about get the Santagiulia arena ready for Italy’s win over France – and the locals responded
TL;DR
- The Santagiulia arena in Milan was not fully completed by the scheduled start of the women's preliminary Group B match between Italy and France.
- Construction delays resulted in unfinished concession desks, dangling wires, thick dust, and leaking pipes.
- Despite the issues, an ice sheet was ready, and the game proceeded with an audience.
- The Italian women's hockey team, the lowest-ranked in the competition, achieved a surprise victory against France with a score of 4-1.
- The arena's construction is linked to a broader district redevelopment project, and the hockey rink is planned to be repurposed as a concert hall in the future.
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