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Put aside thin ice. Currently, the surface isn't ready.

As NHL players preparing to make a comeback to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade, building work on the main hockey arena for the Milano Cortina Games is cutting it close.

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the primary trial competition for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility originally planned for December has been moved to a smaller venue – and that no new test event has been arranged yet.

The issue raises the prospect that there may 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 – 24 hours before the opening ceremony.

“It’s going to be very close to the start of the games, the timeline is very tight. However, we were aware,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier stated in a recent update.

The competition that was supposed to test the Santagiulia ice was a segment of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. This tournament has been transferred to the Rho Fair hockey venue, which is being set up inside a massive 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 prior year to hosting medal events. And with a sizable hockey venue, it’s not only about the ice and making sure that the rink is prepared and safe. It’s additionally about testing concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a newly constructed contemporary arena.

This new facility, which is being constructed by a commercial firm, is slated to become Italy’s largest covered stadium. For after the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a possible future host of the ATP Tour Finals tennis event.

Despite the delays and worries, expensive passes are already being sold for events at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men's championship game on 22 February – the final day of the games – are priced at as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). This exceeds for any other athletic competition at the Milan-Cortina Games. Only passes for the opening and closing ceremonies cost more.

The return of NHL stars at the Olympics was revealed in February of last year, with the world’s top hockey organization allowing its athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.

Men's Olympic hockey competition is scheduled to run from 11-22 February. The women’s event runs from 5-19 February.