February 6, 2026: Opening Ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games.
The stage is San Siro Stadium in Milan, a name known even to non-soccer fans.
Home to world-class clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan, it’s often called the “La Scala of football.” Yet now, this stadium stands at a major crossroads.
Plans for reconstruction due to aging infrastructure mean the Milan-Cortina Olympics may be the last global event hosted in its current form.
Why is San Siro facing disappearance? We explain the background and key points to watch during the opening ceremony. At a Crossroads
This is the “La Scala of Calcio”
When people hear San Siro, what often comes to mind is the massive cylindrical spiral walkway encircling the stadium and the red steel roof perched atop it.
In fact, this wasn’t always the case.
When it opened in 1926, it had a much simpler form. Major renovations were undertaken for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, resulting in its current distinctive, fortress-like shape.
Its appearance, emphasizing the massiveness of concrete, is cherished as a design representative of late 20th-century Italian architecture, combining functional beauty with sheer power.
Will it bid farewell to its 70-year history as it ages?
However, over 30 years have passed since the last expansion, and deterioration has become an unavoidable issue.
Currently, AC Milan and Inter clubs are planning to rebuild and relocate to a profitable, state-of-the-art stadium. San Siro is at the center of a fierce debate over whether to partially preserve it or completely demolish it.
Clubs say
A new, high-revenue stadium is needed to accommodate modern business models.
Business is difficult at the aging San Siro.
Milan Citizens say
A new, high-revenue stadium is needed to accommodate modern business models.
Business is difficult at the aging San Siro.
San Siro, with its historical and cultural value, must not be destroyed.
The debate over historical heritage, common with large-scale facility rebuilds.
Will San Siro witness the dawn and the end of television?
Television broadcasting began at Cortina in 1956.
The 1956 Winter Games were also held in Cortina.
The 1956 Cortina Games were the first Olympics to be broadcast live.
Seventy years later, sporting events—which grew massive and commercialized alongside television—are poised to transform again due to the proliferation of internet streaming and the shift toward sustainability.
Along with San Siro, the very style of “building massive structures only to tear them down” may disappear.
The Opening Ceremony: “A Requiem for San Siro”
When you watch the 2026 Opening Ceremony, please take a moment to look not just at the athletes, but also at the structure of San Siro itself.
The distinctive spiral walkways, the imposing steel roof trusses. Each element stands as a silent witness to history. And yet, in just a few years, it may be demolished.
Viewing it with the thought, “This might be the last time I see it,” transforms the dazzling spectacle into a slightly different landscape.
Perhaps San Siro chose the Olympics as its grandest stage to showcase its final majesty to the world.
Milan and Cortina are over five hours apart by car, and there’s no direct rail link.
Why host events in separate locations? How will spectators get there?
Discover the truth behind the split venues and the solutions in this article.
