Milano Hockey Venue Setbacks Could Leave NHL Players on Unproven Playing Surface
Forget about thin ice. Currently, the surface isn't ready.
As NHL players gearing up to return to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade, construction on the main hockey venue for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Officials 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 more compact venue – and that no additional trial has been scheduled yet.
This situation creates the possibility that there might not be a match held in the main arena until the competition begins for the women's initial games at the Olympics on 5 February – one day before the opening ceremony.
“It’s going to be extremely tight to the start of the games, the schedule is very tight. But we knew that,” Milan-Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier stated recently.
The event that was supposed to test the Santagiulia ice was a segment of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been transferred to the Rho Fair hockey venue, which is being established inside a giant convention center on the outskirts of Milan and will host lesser games during the games.
Usually, freshly built Olympic facilities are tested at least the year before to holding podium competitions. And with a large hockey venue, it’s not only about the ice and ensuring that the playing surface is prepared and secure. It’s also about checking concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new modern stadium.
This new facility, which is being built by a private company, is scheduled to become Italy’s largest indoor arena. Following the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a possible upcoming venue of the ATP Tour Finals tennis event.
Despite the postponements and worries, high-priced tickets are already being purchased for matches at the Santagiulia arena. Tickets for the men’s gold medal final on 22 February – the closing day of the Olympics – are priced at as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). That’s more than for any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Only passes for the inaugural and final events are priced higher.
The return of NHL players at the Olympics was announced last February, with the premier hockey organization allowing its players to compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.
Men's Olympic hockey tournament is scheduled to run from 11-22 February. Women's tournament occurs from 5-19 February.
