Gary Bettman concerned over arena delays ahead of NHL Olympics return

The NHL is growing concerned about the progress of the ice hockey facilities being constructed for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are just four months away. 

Construction on the 16,000-seat arena, which will be the main venue for ice hockey during the Milan-Cortina Games, is going to come down to the wire, with the possibility that a test event for the venue might not be able to take place before the start of the Olympics. 

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that local organizers confirmed the tight timeline for completion. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league has been concerned over the rink’s construction for several years.

Due to the short timeline, the arena may not open until just days before the opening ceremony, leading players to potentially skate on untested ice. 

“We’ve had a concern for the last two years on the progress of the rink — both rinks but mainly the main one — but it’s the [International Olympic Committee’s] responsibility,” Bettman said. “We’re invited guests, but they know of our concerns and we’re expecting that they’re going to make good on all the promises to have a facility that is, from a competitive standpoint, first class.”

The upcoming games mark the first time NHL players have participated in the Olympics since the 2014 competition in Sochi. 

Bettman said Wednesday that the NHL would express any concerns it has with the NHL Players Association if needed, but reiterated that this was an event run outside the league. On top of the Olympics issues, plans for the arena to host an event as part of the IIHF under-20 world championship in December were scrapped and moved to the smaller Rho Fiera hockey venue.

“We are constrained in what we can and can’t do, request and demand and if it reached a certain point, we’ll have to deal with it,” Bettman said. “But I’m not speculating, and we’ve been constantly assured by the IOC and the [International Ice Hockey Federation] that it will be OK.”