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

With NHL athletes gearing up to make a comeback to the Olympic Games for the first time in more than a decade, construction on the main hockey arena for the Milano Cortina Games is going down to the wire.

Officials announced on Wednesday that the primary test event for the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena that was scheduled for December has been relocated to a smaller arena – 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 primary venue until the puck is dropped for the women's initial games at the Olympics on 5 February – 24 hours before the inaugural event.

“It’s going to be extremely tight to the beginning of the games, the schedule is very tight. However, we were aware,” Milano Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier stated recently.

The competition that was intended to evaluate the Santagiulia playing surface was a segment of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been transferred to the Rho Fair hockey venue, 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 tested at least the year before to hosting podium competitions. And with a large hockey venue, it’s not only about the ice and ensuring that the rink is ready and safe. It’s additionally about testing food outlets, restrooms and all other amenities inside a newly constructed modern arena.

The Santagiulia venue, which is being built by a private company, is slated to become Italy’s biggest indoor arena. For after the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a potential upcoming venue of the ATP Tour Finals tennis tournament.

Despite the delays and concerns, expensive passes are already being purchased for events at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men's championship game on 22 February – the closing day of the Olympics – are going for as much as €1,400 (over $1,600). That’s more than for any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Solely tickets for the inaugural and final events cost more.

The return of NHL players at the Olympics was announced in February of last year, with the premier hockey league allowing its athletes to compete in the Winter Olympics for the initial occasion since 2014 in Sochi.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament is set to take place from 11-22 February. Women's tournament runs from 5-19 February.