Milano Ice Hockey Venue Delays Could Force NHL Stars on Unproven Playing Surface
Put aside poor conditions. Currently, the surface isn't ready.
With NHL players gearing up to return to the Olympics for the first time in over a decade, building work on the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the main trial competition for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility that was scheduled for December has been relocated to a smaller venue – and that no additional trial has been scheduled yet.
The issue raises the prospect that there might not be a match held in the primary venue until the puck is dropped for the women’s preliminary round at the Olympics on 5 February – 24 hours before the inaugural event.
“The timeline will be extremely tight to the beginning of the games, the timeline is very tight. But we knew that,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier said recently.
The event that was intended to test the Santagiulia ice was part of the U20 world championship from 8-14 December. This tournament has been transferred to the Rho Fair hockey location, which is being set up inside a massive exhibition hall on the outskirts of Milan and will host lesser games during the Olympics.
Typically, new Olympic venues are tested at least the year before to hosting medal events. And with a sizable hockey arena, it’s not only about the ice and making sure that the rink is prepared and safe. It’s also about checking concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new contemporary stadium.
The Santagiulia venue, which is being constructed by a commercial firm, is slated to become Italy’s biggest indoor arena. Following the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a possible future host of the ATP Tour Finals tennis tournament.
Despite the postponements and concerns, high-priced passes are already being sold for events at the Santagiulia arena. Tickets for the men's championship final on 22 February – the closing day of the games – are going for as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). That’s more than the price of any other sports event at the Milan-Cortina Games. Only passes for the opening and closing ceremonies cost more.
The comeback of NHL players at the Olympics was announced in February of last year, with the world’s top hockey organization permitting its players to participate in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.
Men's Olympic hockey competition is set to run from 11-22 February. Women's event runs from 5-19 February.
