Milano Hockey Venue Setbacks Could Force NHL Players on Unproven Playing Surface
Put aside thin ice. Currently, the surface isn't ready.
With NHL players preparing to return to the Olympic Games for the first time in over a ten years, building work on the main hockey venue for the Milano Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Officials announced on Wednesday that the primary test event for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility that was scheduled for December has been moved to a smaller arena – and that no additional trial has been arranged yet.
This situation raises the prospect that there might not be a game held in the primary venue until the competition begins for the women’s preliminary round at the Olympics on 5 February – one day before the opening ceremony.
“It’s going to be very close to the beginning of the Olympics, the schedule is highly compressed. But we knew that,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier said recently.
The event that was intended to evaluate the Santagiulia ice was a segment of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey venue, which is being established inside a massive exhibition hall on the outskirts of Milan and will host lesser games during the Olympics.
Usually, new Olympic venues are tested at least the prior year to hosting medal events. And with a sizable hockey venue, it’s not just about the playing surface and ensuring that the rink is ready and secure. It’s additionally about checking concession stands, bathrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new modern arena.
The Santagiulia venue, which is being constructed by a private company, is slated to become the nation's largest covered stadium. For after the Olympics, it’s being considered as a possible future host of the ATP Tour Finals tennis event.
In spite of the delays and concerns, high-priced passes are already being sold for matches at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men’s gold medal game on 22 February – the closing day of the games – are priced at as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). That’s more than for any other sports event at the Milano Cortina Games. Solely tickets for the inaugural and final events are priced higher.
The return of NHL stars at the Olympics was revealed last February, with the premier hockey league permitting its players to participate in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.
The men’s Olympic hockey competition is scheduled to run from 11-22 February. The women’s tournament runs from 5-19 February.
