Construction of the main hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Winter Games is facing a tight deadline as NHL players gear up for their return to the Olympics after more than ten years. Local organizers have confirmed that the main test event for the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena, initially set for December, has been relocated to a smaller venue. However, no new test event has been arranged yet, leading to concerns that the main arena may not be ready until just before the women’s preliminary round competition on Feb. 5, a day before the opening ceremony.
Milan-Cortina local organizing committee CEO, Andrea Varnier, acknowledged the tight timeline, emphasizing that the construction progress has been closely monitored. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman deferred questions about the construction timeline to the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation. He highlighted that while the league has expressed concerns over the construction progress in the past, the responsibility ultimately lies with the IOC to deliver a top-notch facility for the games. Bettman assured that any issues would be communicated with the Players’ Association if necessary.
Originally planned to be tested during the under-20 world championship in December, the Santagiulia arena will now undergo testing at the Rho Fiera hockey venue. The delay not only affects the ice surface but also raises questions about the readiness of other facilities like concession stands and washrooms in the new arena. Post-Olympics, the Santagiulia venue, set to become Italy’s largest indoor arena, is being considered as a potential host for the ATP Finals tennis event.
Despite the construction challenges, tickets for events at the Santagiulia arena are already being sold at high prices. Seats for the men’s gold medal game on Feb. 22 are fetching up to 1,400 euros (over $1,600), making it the most expensive sporting event at the Milan-Cortina Games, after the opening and closing ceremonies.
The return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics was announced in February last year, allowing them to participate in the games for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The Canadian teams are set to kick off their campaigns in early February, with the women’s team starting their gold medal defense against Finland on Feb. 5, and the men facing the Czech Republic on Feb. 12. Canada’s group stage matches will conclude on Feb. 15 at the Santagiulia arena.
The schedules for both the men’s and women’s tournaments have been unveiled, with the games set to be televised in Canada during late morning or early afternoon due to the time difference. The anticipation is high as teams prepare to compete for Olympic glory in what promises to be a thrilling hockey tournament.