PalaItalia
Milan's largest indoor arena, built for the 2026 Olympics.
PalaItalia, also called Arena Milano and Unipol Dome for sponsorship reasons, is an indoor arena in Milan, Italy. It seats 12,000 spectators and can accommodate 4,000 standing for concerts, making it the largest indoor sporting and entertainment venue in Milan. The arena hosted ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics and para ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Milano Santa Giulia, Milan, Italy
- Groundbreaking
- 2023
- Opened
- 10 January 2026
- Operator
- CTS Eventim
- Cost
- €240–280 million
- Architect
- Arup; David Chipperfield
- Capacity
- 16,000 (12,000 seats, 4,000 standing)
- General contractor
- Eteria Consortium
Facts from the source article.
History
The arena is located in Milan’s southeastern suburb of Montecity-Rogoredo, part of the Santa Giulia district redevelopment. The concept for Arena Milano came about during the city’s joint bid with Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 2026 Winter Olympics, though Milan’s administration decided to proceed with construction even if the bid failed. Risanamento S.p.A., via its subsidiary Santa Giulia S.p.A., was chosen to design it. A week before the International Olympic Committee’s host vote, the firm announced a construction deal with Lendlease and Ogv Europe Limited. Site cleanup started in early 2022. In 2025, the Italian government provided €51 million to help cover rising building costs. On January 10–11, 2026, while still unfinished, the arena hosted the Italian Cup and Serie A ice hockey championship final four matches, inaugurating its ice rink.
Criticism
Arena Milano has drawn criticism for holding major events like the Italian Cup Final Four and Serie A ice hockey matches while still unfinished. Reports from those games noted ongoing construction and technical glitches; in one case, a game was paused after a hole appeared in the ice, fueling doubts about the venue's dependability. International observers, particularly from the NHL, have questioned whether the arena meets Olympic standards and if construction would wrap up on schedule. In January 2026, IIHF president Luc Tardif acknowledged that the stands would not be finished in time, resulting in a lower capacity, though he confirmed the rink and player areas would be operational. These issues are part of wider concerns over infrastructure delays tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics, especially regarding the completion of service zones and external work around the facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed PalaItalia?
PalaItalia was designed by Arup and David Chipperfield.
Who operates PalaItalia?
PalaItalia is operated by CTS Eventim.
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