Milan to Get Permanent Ice Hockey Venue After Olympic Games
Milan, Lombardy, Italy – Milan is poised to gain a permanent home for ice hockey within the next two to three years. This announcement follows the enthusiastic reception of ice sports during the current Olympic Games. A temporary ice hockey stadium is scheduled to open at the Rho Fiera exhibition center by October 2026, serving as an important post-Olympics legacy.
The decision to establish a lasting ice sports facility in Milan was revealed during a press conference held at the Triennale di Milano. Key figures present included Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region; Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan; Giovanni Bozzetti, President of the Fondazione Fiera Milano; Andrea Gios, President of the Italian Ice Sports Federation; and Luciano Buonfiglio, President of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee).
Fontana: Milan Cannot Be Without an Ice Sports Facility
President Attilio Fontana emphasized the collective belief that a city of Milan’s stature requires a dedicated ice sports structure. “We are all convinced that a city like Milan cannot be without a facility for ice sports,” Fontana stated. He added that the extraordinary enthusiasm shown by Milanese citizens during test events and ongoing Olympic competitions reinforced this conviction. “For this reason, we deemed it appropriate to evaluate, as a first solution, the use or enhancement of one of the facilities built in the Fiera Milano area, which are proving very successful and have been much appreciated by the public.” Fontana concluded by affirming the shared political and sporting consensus: “Milan must once again have a facility dedicated to ice sports. We are talking about much-loved disciplines that have given us great satisfaction even during these Olympics.”
Bozzetti: An Important Day for Milan and Lombardy
Giovanni Bozzetti, President of Fondazione Fiera Milano, echoed Fontana’s sentiments, highlighting the significance of the day. “It is an important day for Milan and for Lombardy,” said Bozzetti. “We are used to celebrating the athletes’ medals, but today we can say that we have also won a ‘medal’ as a territorial system. We want to offer our young people the opportunity to dream and win new medals, by providing them with an adequate structure. We will work in synergy with institutions and the business world.”
Sala: Ice Hockey Not New to Milan
Mayor Giuseppe Sala pointed out that ice hockey is not a novel sport for Milan, which boasts a rich history of successful teams. “Ice hockey is not new to Milan,” Sala remarked. “There are teams that have made history. But beyond the competition, the medals of these days, it means giving children, boys and girls, but also adults, the opportunity to have fun. And to do so by practicing a sport that, during these Olympics, has enjoyed great public success. The idea, therefore, was born from this. With President Fontana, we asked President Bozzetti to study how to keep an ice sports facility in Milan.”
Gios: We Cannot Neglect the Passion for This Discipline
Andrea Gios, President of the Italian Ice Sports Federation, expressed his long-held belief in the sport’s potential. “I have always believed in it,” Gios concluded. “I speak as a sportsman. I know very well that in addition to fans, supporters, young people who want to try their hand at this discipline, investments will be needed. But we cannot neglect the passion aroused by this discipline; this is the time to bet on it.”
The temporary facility at Rho Fiera is expected to be ready by October 2026. Meanwhile, the search for a suitable location for the permanent ice sports arena is underway, with completion anticipated within two to three years. This initiative aims to provide a lasting legacy for ice sports in Milan, fostering both professional and recreational participation.
Source: https://www.lombardianotizie.online/hockey-milano-dopo-olimpiadi/
