Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

The Nationwide Arena is a multipurpose arena in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Since its completion in 2000, the arena has been the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets National Hockey League.

It is one of two facilities in Columbus, along with the Greater Columbus convention center, where events are held during the annual Arnold Classic sports and fitness event held by actor, bodybuilder and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

General information

Official website: https://www.nationwidearena.com/ 

Arena capacity: 18,500 spectators

Address: 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 39 ° 58′9.42 ″ n. 83 ° 0′22.00 ″ W. 

Year of construction: September 9, 2000 

Cost of construction: 269 million dollars

Nationwide Arena seating plan

Lexus lounge

AM Series are part of the Lexus Lounge.

Club places in sections 114 and 115 are situated behind foul shots in the AM rows. These places have access to the Lexus Lounge with high-end amenities, televisions and comprehensive food and drink.

Ticket holders who have a food voucher are advised to arrive early, as they will be given a buffet before the game “all you can eat” (note: some tickets do not come with a buffet voucher). Adults will also receive two (2) free drinks at one of two full-service private bars. Other privileges of the Lexus Lounge include private toilets and on-site waiting services.

Club level

The club level at the Nationwide Arena is a small collection of sections on the north and east sides of the second level for seating. All club seats are soft and very wide and have access to a high-class club lounge.

The exclusive lounge has superb food and beverage options, a full bar and additional seating for guests before a game or between periods. The private club room also offers a high-class atmosphere where fans can socialize while still enjoying the view of the ice below.

Terrace Tables

One of the coolest seating options in the Blue Jackets game is on the terrace tables situated at the club level. Unlike traditional stadium-style seats, fans will sit at a bar-style table overlooking the ice. Each table is equipped with a personal television monitor and on-site waiting service. Ticket holders will also have access to the club lounge with upscale restaurants and a full-service bar.

Lodges

Loge seats are a group of premium drawers, each containing 4-6 people. Each box is equipped with a television monitor, as well as a large rail/table, which is ideal for placing food, drinks and other items.

In addition to comfortably seating in an adjustable and mobile office chair, fans will also benefit from access to the club lounge. The lounge has premium restaurants and a full bar.

Glass seats

Rows A are part of the glass seats.

Glass seats offer fans a unique opportunity to watch Blue Jackets in person. Line A in each section of the lower level is the first row behind the glass, which has privileges besides being on an ice crust.

All glass seat ticket holders will have access to the club room, which is open to fans in sections of Lexus Lounge 114-115. A pre-game buffet and two free drinks underscore the lounge experience (see Seller’s Notes, as not all tickets will include this service).

For the best combination of all-inclusive amenities and “in your face” actions, it’s hard to do much better than the seats on the glass.

Recommended seats for children and families

Section 110:

• Next to Front Street Market, where you can take along food and drinks suitable for children;
• The family toilet is situated next to the section.

Recommended places for guest impressions

Club 10, Club 11, Club 12 and Club 13 sections:

• High quality club experience level;
• Close to the net where Blue jackets shoot twice;
• Fewer lines in the section create a more comfortable atmosphere.

Recommended places for great ice views

Sections 103, 104, 114 and 115:

• Amazing views from the bottom of the seat near the center of the ice;
• Places are occupied either by player benches or penalties, which are entertaining;
• Some seats in the first row are situated opposite the glass — an ideal place to watch the game.
• Take a look at the freebets offered by the bookmaker.

Obstructed Seats

Avoid Section 116 — Places in row Y, especially on the right aisle (near spot 1), may have obstructed views of the ice.

Premium seating

Update your experience. Make memories with family and friends. Enjoy a game or a show at one of our exclusive premium vacation spots.

Opportunities

Small groups can enjoy the tables on the terrace with bar chairs for 4 people or boxes with opposing chairs for 4-6 people. Guests at the terrace tables or in the lodges, situated in the exclusive club-level hall get access to the premium-class club lounge Pizzuti with full service restaurants and bar. Groups can enjoy a show or a game in the private setting of a luxurious suite that seats up to 30 guests, OR for individual events — parties for parties that can accommodate from 24 to 48 guests.

Party towers

Party Towers offer luxury suites for groups of 24 to 48 guests.

Facilities include:

• Private interactive space offering excellent viewing lines (towers are available only for selected events);
• Theater seats with plenty of legroom;
• Catering available — for an additional fee;
• Fully furnished lounge with bar (for an additional fee, must be ordered through the supplier);
• Personal Guest Support Service;
• Private restroom.

Suites

Suites are available for individual events, offering an exciting and private event for 20-30 guests. (suite have different sizes).

Facilities include:

• Luxurious leather theater-style armchairs with ample legroom;
• Excellent overview lines;
• Catering available — for an additional fee;
• Fully furnished lounge with bar (for an additional fee, must be ordered through the supplier);
• Private toilet.

Lodge boxes and terrace tables

The Loge Boxes and Terrace Suites, situated on an exclusive club level, are available for individual events, offering access to the Pizzuti Club Lounge with excellent restaurants and a full bar. The open design of the Club level hall allows guests to mix while enjoying a game or an event.

Loge Box facilities include:

• Spacious seating at 4-6;
• Personal box with corporate swivel chairs and anti-style desk;
• Food and drink on site (available for individual events);
• Personal flat-screen TVs on each desk (dimming possible).

Terrace desk facilities include:

• Private table with high bar stools for 4 persons;
• Food and drink on site (available for individual events);
• Personal flat-screen TVs on each desk (subject to blackout).

Where to buy tickets?

Official ticket partner, Ticketmaster sells tickets exclusively through ticketmaster.com, in Chiller locations (select events) OR in person at Big Lots! The ticket office is situated on the corner of Nationwide Blvd. and McConnell Boulevard Ticketmaster does not sell tickets by phone.

Big lots! box office

There are no Ticketmaster charges (amenity fee may apply) on tickets bought through the Big Lots! Box Office. Checks are not accepted and they do not sell tickets by phone.

Ways Payment: Cash/Visa/Mastercard/Discover or American Express.

Standard work hours*:

Monday-Friday: 10 am-6pm

Saturday/Sunday: closed

Weekends and holidays are open at 10 am.

*subject to change due to changes in event time, holidays or weather. Please call to confirm.

No refunds or exchanges for tickets purchased at a Nationwide Arena concert or event. If the event is canceled or postponed, return to our original point of purchase.

Mobile ticket — only tickets that are compatible with a Ticketmaster mobile ticket (generated by Ticketmaster and shown on a mobile device as a QR code, and not a standard bar code) are accepted. Mobile tickets generate QR codes that you open on your phone and send directly to ticket scanners. We advise you to pick them up in advance and download to your mobile wallet, as large crowds can affect WiFi access. QR codes are valid only for input when they are presented on your mobile device — they are not valid printed on paper.

Columbus Blue Jackets event day ours:

• Monday-Saturday: from 10:00 until the end of the second intermission;
• Sunday: 10 am to the end of the second intermission.

Concerts/Family day shows events h our:

• Monday-Saturday: from 10:00 to about two hours after the posted start time of the event;
• Sunday: from 10:00 to about two hours after the posted start time of the event.

BUYER BEWARE Ticketing Tips

StubHub, Vivid Seats, eBay, Craig’s list, secondary ticket agencies, or “ticket brokers” are not recognized ticket agents. Tickets purchased from unauthorized agents may be fake, stolen or otherwise invalid and may be invalid for admission to the event. Sites other than nationalwidearena.com, nhl.com/bluejackets or ticketmaster.com, are not associated with a venue or team.

The National Arena cannot accept, replace or return invalid tickets. Invalid tickets will be confiscated and reported. A copy of the ticket /report is available upon request. Nationwide arena strictly prohibits scalping and resale of tickets.

Blue Jackets have three competitors: Chicago, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is perhaps the main competitor, just three hours away, and ticket prices can range from $25 to $173. However, these prices will rise if any of these three teams are in the city. However, there are several ways to purchase an affordable game ticket.

Ticket prices are much lower than in many other NHL venues throughout North America, while AM ​​ranks include access to the Lexus Lounge and all-inclusive food and drinks. If you turn on the parking cost from 5 to 15 dollars, it is quite affordable night to view hockey.

How to get there?

Northeast / Northeast (Cleveland / Toledo)

South from I-71 to I-670 West. Exit to Neil Avenue. At the crossroads, turn left onto Nile Avenue. Then turn left onto Nationwide Boulevard.

From the South (Cincinnati)

North on I-71 to I-70 East. Take the exit to Front St. (# 100 A) — on the left at the intersection. Head north on Front Street. Turn left onto Nationwide Boulevard.

From the east (Pittsburgh)

West on I-70. Exit at Fourth Street. Continue on Fulton Street until Front Street. Turn right on Front Street.

– OR –

West on I-670. Exit to Neil Avenue. Turn left onto Nationwide Boulevard.

From the west (Indianapolis/Dayton)

East on I-70. Exit at Fourth Street. Continue on Fulton Street until Front Street. Turn right on Front Street.

– OR –

East on I-670. Exit to Neil Avenue. Turn right onto the national boulevard.

Parking

A 10-minute walk from the Nationwide Arena, there are more than 15,000 parking spaces on land and garages. On event days, ALL lots and garages will be PRE-PAY to avoid delays on exiting. NOTE. Traffic and parking patterns vary depending on the event. SEE the link below to pre-purchase a parking ticket (it may be unavailable until the date close to the event).

Pick-up/drop-offs

ALL pickups and disembarkation will take place on West Street. Vehicles MUST be present at all times. Unattended vehicles can be towed.

Parking available

Parking near the National Arena exceeds the ADA standards for the number of parking places available. ALL surrounding parking lots and garages offer affordable (you must have a state passport for disabled people). During visited events, the demand for affordable parking may exceed the available supply.

Suggested options:

• North entrance to the McConnell garage;
• Northeast entrance to the main street.

A small section along McConnell Boulevard is maintained as a landing site for guests with special needs.

Downtown Columbus is easily bypassed, and all the interstate highways and major streets provide signs to the arena. There are many garages around the arena for parking and parking on the street, if you are lucky. Being inside the place, there are two main halls offering a clear sign to direct visitors to their seats, bathrooms and rooms for concessions. Smoking sections are situated in the main hall in section 122 or on an attached parking zone outside the G3 in the upper hall.

Accessibility

The National Arena is committed to providing exceptional service for all guests, including those with special needs. The venue meets or exceeds living conditions in accordance with the mandates of ADA and Ohio.

Where to eat?

The national arena offers 41 zones for food and drinks in the main and upper halls. The options are plentiful and include Cincinnati-style chili, smoked meats, pizza, steaks, Putin and various craft beers. We hope that this review will be able to highlight several delicacies.

The Smokehouse is situated on the Bud Light terrace in the main hall, but just follow the smell of large strips of thick lard, slowly preparing for an open skillet for all witnesses. The fragrance is delicious and is available at a price of $5.50 per stick. If you prefer braised pork or brisket, they offer a combo with chips, poppies and cheese.

Not far away in the same zone is the West Side Grill, which serves branded burgers with brisket and pimento cheese on toast from Texas. The Northside Grill (main hall 105/222) serves a chicken box “Buffalo”, consisting of french fries, chicken sausage “Buffalo” and crumb or blue cheese from blue cheese.

If you are looking for beer, you will find big checkers for $ 9 in the arena and cans for $10.50 for local dishes (Budweiser and Yuengling). Stand el Arch City pours checkers for 9 or $13 per manufactured in Ohio brewery from Jackie O, Land Grant and Zauber .If you do not like beer, wine is served for $8, and mixed drinks — from $9 to $10. Pepsi products and Tim Horton’s coffee are served in the arena.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere begins in one of the many bars outside the arena, where Blue Jackets fans gather for food and drink, they soon take a short walk to the arena. Once inside, they are delighted with the wide open halls that provide open views of the ice from the standing room sections.

One of the open sections, where the gun of 1850 is situated, will work when the jackets go on the ice, score a goal or after a victory. It is in an zone that is limited, but fans can take photos and read a little about its history on nearby posters. When it leaves, the zone smells of gunpowder.

There is a lot of history in competitions for a young club that is approaching 20 seasons in the league. Two displays describe in detail the birth of a franchise, complete with knitwear and other paraphernalia. There is also a third display, filled with capital letters, highlighting the 18 tricks that took place in the history of the team.

The Stinger team’s mascot can be seen from time to time in many places in the arena, as well as the Blue Jackets ice brigade, which is a group of young ladies seen on the ice, as well as in the stands throughout the night.

Neighborhood

The Nationwide Arena is a central part of the Arena zone, which offers comprehensive planning of residential and commercial zones. There are over 22 different snack bars and bars situated a few steps from the building that jump before and after the game.

Bar R is the official ice hockey hole that passes through a small pedestrian bridge and offers 16 draft beers and 32 bottles and cans. The Gordon Biersch brewery and restaurant, as well as the three-legged mare are also situated in this zone, where you can sit outdoors and look at many people. If you are with children, then Boston’s Pizza (which is very popular in Canada) and Ted’s Montana Grill are two adjacent options. In addition, before the game during the happy hour, be sure to check out the local pints for $ 4 on the Mongolian BD grill.

Near the quarter is the home of the Columbus Clippers Huntington Park, which is one of the best football fields in the country. Go to the concert hall indoors and on Express Street! The Live and A & R Music Bar is situated next to the football field, which provides an ideal late-night atmosphere. There are also three hotels in the Arena zone: Lofts, Hyatt Regency and Crown Plaza.

Almost everything you need is in this zone of ​​Columbus, which makes it one of the best places for entertainment within walking distance of the NHL.

The fans

Columbus has a winner, and when his team fights for a place in the playoffs, the fans are going to go out in droves. The team is currently selling its arena with an accuracy of 88% and will sell when rivals Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago are in the city and on weekends.

The fans present wear Blue Jackets gear, talk a little more about hockey for a few drinks in one of the nearest bars in the arena, while others cheer in unison every time a team scores or makes a big hit on the ice. If the team continues its victorious struggle, do not be surprised that we will have a few more games.

Additionally

One star for Napoleon’s 1857 hand-made 12-pound cannon, which shoots when jackets take the ice, score a goal and win the game. The explosion is followed by the songs “For those who are going to rock (we welcome you)” by AC/DC and “The Whip” by Locksley.

Another star for retro-diner-themed concession stands, which can be found throughout the main hall. Northside Grill, Westside Grill and Arena Barbecue have neon colors to attract customers to their locations.

The third star in the number of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues within walking distance of the arena. The Arena zone provides a single location before and after the game.

And, finally, an extra for the lookout lines in the arena, which also includes the location of the SRO, is one of the best views in hockey.

Construction

The arena has a brick design and serves as the center of the entertainment district, situated about half a mile north of the Ohio State Capitol. The seating capacity is approximately 18,500 for hockey, 17,171 for football in the arena, 19,500 for basketball and up to 21,000 for concerts. Brittany Cecil’s death due to injuries resulting from a hockey puck flying to the stands in the Blue Jackets game led to the installation of nylon net for catching pucks flying over acrylic glass in all professional hockey arenas in the NHL, AHL, IIHF and ECHL.

Location

The zone around the Nationwide Arena, called the Arena District, is a multifunctional zone developed by the Nationwide Realty Investors, with restaurants, bars, offices and residential buildings. Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A International League baseball team, plays in Huntington Park, also situated in the Arena zone and developed by Nationwide Realty Investors. Columbus uses the arena as a point of attraction for the city, while other establishments are powered by pedestrian traffic. Express Live! A concert venue adjacent to the national arena is part of the entertainment complex.

Amenities

The nationwide arena includes a smaller ice rink called OhioHealth IceHaus, which serves as a training rink for Blue Jackets, and is also used for youth hockey games and open skating for the public. With this object Nationwide Arena is the first venue of the NHL with an on-site practice facility and one of four such facilities in the NHL, along with KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.