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

With NHL players gearing up to make a comeback to the Olympics for the initial occasion in over a ten years, construction on the primary hockey venue for the Milano Cortina Games is cutting it close.

Local organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the primary test event for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility originally planned for December has been moved to a more compact venue – and that no additional trial has been scheduled yet.

The issue creates the possibility that there might not be a game held in the main arena until the puck is dropped for the women’s preliminary round at the Olympics on 5 February – one day before the inaugural event.

“It’s going to be very close to the start of the Olympics, the schedule is very tight. However, we were aware,” Milan-Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier said in a recent update.

The competition that was supposed to evaluate the Santagiulia playing surface was part of the under-20 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 convention center on Milan’s outskirts and will host secondary matches during the games.

Typically, new Olympic venues are tested at least the prior year to hosting podium competitions. And with a large hockey arena, it’s not just about the ice and ensuring that the playing surface is prepared and secure. It’s additionally about checking food outlets, bathrooms and all other amenities inside a newly constructed contemporary arena.

This new facility, which is being built by a commercial firm, is scheduled to become Italy’s largest indoor arena. Following the Olympics, it’s being considered as a possible upcoming venue of the ATP Tour Finals tennis event.

In spite of the delays and worries, high-priced passes are already being purchased for matches at the Santagiulia venue. Tickets for the men's championship final on 22 February – the final day of the games – are priced at as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). This exceeds the price of any other athletic competition 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 last February, with the premier hockey league allowing its players to participate 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.