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Put aside poor conditions. For now, there’s no ice.

With NHL athletes preparing to return to the Olympics for the initial occasion in more than a decade, construction on the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is cutting it close.

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

The issue 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 – one day before the inaugural event.

“It’s going to be extremely tight to the beginning of the Olympics, the schedule is very tight. But we knew that,” Milano Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier stated in a recent update.

The competition that was supposed to test the Santagiulia ice was part of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey location, which is being established inside a giant exhibition hall on Milan’s outskirts and will host lesser games during the games.

Typically, new Olympic venues are tested at least the prior year to holding podium competitions. And with a sizable hockey venue, it’s not only about the playing surface and ensuring that the rink is prepared and safe. It’s additionally about testing food outlets, bathrooms and all other amenities inside a newly constructed contemporary stadium.

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 eyed as a potential future host of the ATP Finals tennis event.

In spite of the postponements and concerns, high-priced tickets 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 going for as much as €1,400 (more than $1,600). That’s more than the price of any other athletic competition at the Milano Cortina Games. Only tickets for the inaugural and final events cost more.

The return of NHL stars at the Olympics was revealed in February of last year, with the premier hockey organization 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 tournament runs from 5-19 February.