Columbus Blue Jackets

Nationwide Arena isn’t quite as big as some other NHL arenas, so it has a slightly intimate feel (for the NHL). It has an interesting setup, with suites stacked on top of each other like a tower in the corners of the one end. At the very top of the building behind the nets there are actually windows that can allow natural light in. They are covered with curtains, but they’re automated so during intermissions of the afternoon game I attended they were opened to let some (though not much) light in, which is nice. Of course, you can’t talk about Columbus without mentioning the cannon, which is insanely loud. We were in the upper bowl at the opposite end of the rink from it and when it went off without warning during the pre-game I about shit my pants. I’ve seen it get a lot of hate online, but I think it’s a cool addition for the goal celebration in Columbus.

I enjoyed the Nationwide Arena and seeing a Blue Jackets game here. Concourses and concessions are great, seating is comfortable. My only real complaint is the production wasn’t nearly as good as I’ve seen in some other NHL rinks so far. Instead of a pre-game hype video we just got a full minute long countdown on the screen. No clips in between, nothing to really hype except a countdown clock. It felt lacking for sure. Tickets as of when I went were insanely cheap, but that could be contributed to the fact that in the 24 years of their existence the Columbus Blue Jackets have mostly been a bottom feeder team save for a few seasons here and there. The fans there are awesome, and I hope that one day soon they get some legit success and playoff runs. I feel this place would be awesome to see a playoff game in.