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Forget about poor conditions. Currently, the surface isn't ready.

As NHL players preparing to return to the Olympic Games for the first time in over a decade, construction on the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.

Officials announced on Wednesday that the primary trial competition for the 16,000-seat Santagiulia facility originally planned for December has been relocated to a more compact venue – and that no new test event has been scheduled yet.

This situation creates the possibility that there might not be a match 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 inaugural event.

“The timeline will be extremely tight to the beginning of the Olympics, the schedule is very tight. However, we were aware,” Milano Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier stated in a recent update.

The competition that was intended to evaluate the Santagiulia ice was part of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been moved to the Rho Fair hockey venue, which is being established inside a giant 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 sizable hockey arena, it’s not just 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 built by a private company, is slated to become the nation's biggest indoor arena. For after the Olympics, it’s being considered as a possible future host of the ATP Finals tennis event.

Despite the postponements and worries, high-priced passes are already being sold for matches at the Santagiulia arena. Tickets for the men's championship game on 22 February – the final day of the Olympics – are going for as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). This exceeds for any other sports event at the Milan-Cortina Games. Solely tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies cost more.

The comeback of NHL players at the Olympics was revealed in February of last year, with the premier hockey league allowing its athletes to participate in the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.

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