Milan Ice Hockey Arena Delays Could Force NHL Players on Unproven Playing Surface
Put aside thin ice. Currently, there’s no ice.
As NHL athletes preparing to return to the Olympic Games for the first time in over a decade, construction on the primary hockey arena for the Milano Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Local organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the main test event for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia arena that was scheduled for December has been relocated to a smaller venue – and that no new test event has been scheduled yet.
This situation raises the prospect that there might not be a match held in the primary venue until the puck is dropped for the women's initial games at the Olympics on 5 February – 24 hours before the inaugural event.
“It’s going to be extremely tight to the start of the Olympics, the schedule is very tight. However, we were aware,” Milan-Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said recently.
The event that was intended to test the Santagiulia playing surface was part of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been moved to the Rho Fair hockey location, which is being established inside a giant convention center on the outskirts of Milan and will host secondary matches during the games.
Typically, new Olympic venues are tested at least the prior year to holding medal events. And with a large hockey arena, it’s not only about the ice and ensuring that the playing surface is ready and safe. It’s also about checking concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new modern stadium.
The Santagiulia venue, which is being built by a commercial firm, is scheduled to become Italy’s largest indoor arena. Following the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a possible future host of the ATP Finals tennis tournament.
In spite of the postponements and concerns, high-priced passes are already being purchased for events at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men’s gold medal final on 22 February – the final day of the Olympics – are going for as much as €1,400 (more than $1,600). This exceeds for any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Solely passes for the opening and closing ceremonies are priced higher.
The return of NHL stars at the Olympics was announced last February, with the world’s top hockey organization allowing its athletes to compete in the Winter Olympics for the initial occasion since 2014 in Sochi.
The men’s Olympic hockey tournament is set to run from 11-22 February. The women’s event occurs from 5-19 February.
