Milano Hockey Venue Delays Could Force NHL Players on Untested Ice
Put aside poor conditions. For now, there’s no ice.
With NHL players gearing up to return to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade, building work on the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Local organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the primary trial competition for the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena that was scheduled for December has been relocated to a more compact venue – and that no new test event has been scheduled yet.
The issue raises the prospect that there might not be a game held in the primary venue until the competition begins for the women's initial games at the Olympics on 5 February – one day before the opening ceremony.
“The timeline will be extremely tight to the start of the Olympics, the schedule is very tight. But we knew that,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier stated recently.
The event that was supposed to test the Santagiulia ice was part of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been transferred to the Rho Fiera hockey venue, which is being established inside a giant convention center on Milan’s outskirts and will host lesser games during the games.
Usually, freshly built Olympic facilities are tested at least the prior year to holding medal events. And with a large hockey arena, it’s not just about the ice and ensuring that the rink is ready and safe. It’s also about checking food outlets, restrooms and all other amenities inside a newly constructed contemporary stadium.
The Santagiulia venue, which is being built by a private company, is slated to become the nation's largest covered stadium. For after the Olympics, it’s being considered as a potential future host of the ATP Finals tennis event.
In spite of the postponements and concerns, high-priced passes are already being sold for events at the Santagiulia venue. Tickets for the men's championship game on 22 February – the closing day of the games – are going for as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). This exceeds the price of any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Only passes for the inaugural and final events are priced higher.
The return of NHL stars at the Olympics was revealed last February, with the world’s top hockey league permitting its players to participate in the Winter Games for the initial occasion since 2014 in Sochi.
Men's Olympic hockey competition is set to take place from 11-22 February. Women's tournament occurs from 5-19 February.
