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Put aside poor conditions. For now, the surface isn't ready.

With NHL players gearing up to make a comeback to the Olympic Games for the initial occasion in over a decade, construction on the primary hockey arena for the Milano Cortina Games is going down to the wire.

Local organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the primary test event for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia arena that was scheduled for December has been moved to a more compact venue – and that no new test event has been arranged yet.

The issue raises the prospect that there may not be a game held in the main arena until the puck is dropped 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 beginning of the games, the schedule is highly compressed. However, we were aware,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier stated in a recent update.

The event that was supposed to test the Santagiulia playing surface was a segment of the U20 world championship from 8-14 December. This tournament has been moved to the Rho Fair hockey location, which is being established inside a massive exhibition hall on the outskirts of Milan and will host secondary matches during the Olympics.

Usually, new Olympic venues are trialled at least the prior year to holding medal events. And with a sizable hockey arena, it’s not just about the ice and ensuring that the rink is ready and safe. It’s additionally about checking concession stands, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new contemporary arena.

This new facility, which is being built by a commercial firm, is scheduled to become Italy’s biggest indoor arena. For after the Olympics, it’s being considered as a possible future host of the ATP Finals tennis event.

In spite of the postponements and concerns, high-priced tickets are already being sold for matches at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men’s gold medal game on 22 February – the final 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 Milano Cortina Games. Solely passes for the inaugural and final events cost more.

The comeback of NHL stars at the Olympics was announced last February, with the world’s top hockey league allowing its athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics for the initial occasion since 2014 in Sochi.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament is scheduled to run from 11-22 February. Women's event occurs from 5-19 February.