The Acinque Ice Arena, formerly known as the Varese ice rink, has recently undergone a major expansion in preparation for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. The upgrade has transformed the rink into a world-class sporting facility, brimming with state-of-the-art technology including advanced lighting systems, a suspended LED cube, and a high-power RCF audio system.
Spearheaded by Costigliola, a construction company with over 40 years of industry experience, the arena’s comprehensive upgrade included not only architectural enhancements, but also included updates to integrated technologies throughout the venue. Dr. Alberto Costigliola, Commercial Manager of Costigliola, puts emphasis on the expertise of the RCF team:
“The structural redevelopment of the ice rink began in 2021, starting from the restoration of the roof and laminated wood structures, including the extensions up to the complete renovation of the technology upgrades. For the audio systems, we relied on the expertise of RCF, assisted through Pietro Mandelli of RCF’s Engineering Support Group. From the initial design phase, through system programming to commissioning and delivery of the system, RCF is a tremendous partner.”
Different loudspeaker solutions were installed in accordance with the environmental and architectural requirements of the venue, including for EVAC and emergency announcements. The 1110-seat ice arena and indoor swimming pools feature RCF P4228 loudspeakers, chosen for their resistance to the challenging environmental conditions of the installation. COMPACT M08 two-way speakers with wooden cabinets adorn the large gymnasium and two multi-purpose training rooms. The control room houses an F 12XR mixer, whilst RCF’s DX 1616 digital matrix processor serves as the master unit of the system, backed by power amplifiers including QPS 9600, HPS 2500, DMA 162, and DMA 82.
Now fully equipped for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics, the Acinque Ice Arena was officially inaugurated by President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Reflecting on the inauguration event, Costigliola commented:
“We are very happy with the result and the arena is now ready to host high-profile events. The inauguration day, for example, took place with only the systems inside the building, without any external integration, that provided clarity and definition of speech and music worthy of a concert.”
