Milan Hockey Arena Setbacks Could Leave NHL Players on Unproven Playing Surface
Put aside poor conditions. Currently, the surface isn't ready.
As NHL players gearing up to make a comeback to the Olympic Games for the initial occasion in more than a decade, building work on the main hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.
Local organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the main trial competition for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility originally planned for December has been relocated to a more compact venue – and that no additional trial has been arranged yet.
This situation creates the possibility that there may not be a match 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 inaugural event.
“The timeline will be very close to the beginning of the games, the timeline is very tight. But we knew that,” Milano Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said in a recent update.
The competition that was intended to evaluate the Santagiulia playing surface was part of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. This tournament has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey location, which is being established inside a giant exhibition hall on the outskirts of Milan and will host lesser games during the games.
Usually, new Olympic venues are trialled at least the prior year to holding medal events. And with a sizable hockey venue, it’s not only about the playing surface and ensuring that the rink is prepared and secure. It’s additionally about testing concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new contemporary arena.
The Santagiulia venue, which is being constructed by a private company, is slated to become Italy’s biggest indoor arena. For after the Olympics, it’s being considered as a potential upcoming venue of the ATP Finals tennis event.
Despite the delays and worries, high-priced tickets are already being sold for matches at the Santagiulia arena. 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). That’s more than for any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Only passes for the opening and closing ceremonies are priced higher.
The comeback of NHL players at the Olympics was announced last February, with the world’s top hockey league permitting its players to compete in the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.
The men’s Olympic hockey competition is set to take place from 11-22 February. Women's tournament occurs from 5-19 February.