Design & Development

CTS Eventim appoints Trevi to commence construction of Milan arena

Images: CTS Eventim

International ticketing and live entertainment provider CTS Eventim has appointed civil engineering company Trevi to lead the first construction phase of its Arena Santa Giulia project in the Italian city of Milan.

The arena will have a capacity of up to 16,000 and is expected to take around two and a half years to build. It will be used for ice hockey events during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games and will be Italy’s largest indoor venue when it opens.

In March last year, CTS Eventim appointed British architect Sir David Chipperfield and his firm to design the arena. David Chipperfield Architects will work with international design firm Arup on the design of the arena, which will form part of the Milano Santa Giulia urban development.

The arena will have an elliptical design, rising from an elevated base in the shape of three rings of different heights. The rings will be linked with each other and the floor by light, transparent glass bands.

Trevi has begun setting up the construction site and will start driving in the first piles that will form the arena’s foundations. A general contractor to build the arena will be chosen in the coming weeks.

Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, chief executive of CTS Eventim, said: “We are now looking forward to the next phase of construction. Trevi has decades of experience with this type of specialised foundation work, which will ensure a successful start to the arena’s construction.

“Together, we aim to create a high-quality events venue in Italy that will transform Milan into an attractive hub for the sports and entertainment industries with a global reach.”

CTS Eventim took over the development of the Milan arena in August 2021. The arena will add to CTS Eventim’s portfolio of international venues, which also includes the Lanxess Arena in Cologne and the Eventim Apollo in London.

Oak View Group announced the venue as its first European project through a partnership with Live Nation around the time Milan won the 2026 Olympic bid in 2019, but rights have since switched to CTS Eventim.