OLYMPICS: Ice hockey proving the hottest ticket as sales approach 1.2 million

MILAN — Nearly 1.2 million tickets have been sold for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics, local organizers announced Monday, with ice hockey leading in popularity.

The figure represents about 75% of the total seating capacity for the Games, which officially open Friday, followed by the Paralympics next month.

Ice hockey will feature North American NHL players for the first time since 2014. Organizers are working quickly to complete the new Santagiulia ice hockey stadium in Milan ahead of the event.

The Games’ opening ceremony will take place at Milan’s historic San Siro soccer stadium on Friday, but competitions begin as early as Wednesday.

Fans can take advantage of a “two tickets for the price of one” promotion for select events scheduled between Wednesday and Friday. The promotion includes curling in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Sweden vs. Germany women’s ice hockey match in Milan, and men’s big air snowboard qualification in Livigno.

After ice hockey, biathlon in Antholz-Anterselva and cross-country skiing in Tesero have seen the highest ticket sales. Meanwhile, the new Olympic sport of ski mountaineering in Bormio is already sold out. -Writing by Keith Weir, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters