Nationwide Arena 

Capacity: 20,000

Home Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

Nationwide Arena Events

Nationwide Arena was built to be the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL, an expansion franchise that joined the league in 2000. The arena is part of a neighborhood development known as the Arena District that contains bars, restaurants, and shops, as well as offices and residential apartment buildings (along with a AAA baseball park). Hockey purists were skeptical when the NHL announced that there would be a team in Ohio, but the Blue Jackets are still quite a big draw at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, which is impressive considering that the team has only made the playoffs six times since joining the league. The Nationwide Arena hosts all regular season and playoffs Blue Jackets games, along with concerts, comedy shows, professional wrestling, and UFC//MMA events. It is also one of two venues for the annual Arnie Classic, a fitness event run by the Terminator himself. Showing up to Nationwide Arena on an empty stomach is no issue, with all kinds of savory snacks including chili, German sausages, and carved beef sandwiches on offer. If you are looking for team or event merchandise, there are numerous shops and kiosks in and around the venue.

Nationwide Arena Seating Chart

Visitors to the Nationwide Arena can choose from a wide range of different seating options. Premium seating areas such as party towers, luxury suites, and loge boxes offer first class amenities along with some of the best seats in the house. The huge range of general seating that spans the rest of the arena has something to suit every preference and budget. Wherever you sit, be it behind the glass or up near the rafters, there isn’t really a bad seat in the house. Check TicketX to see which tickets are available to your game or event at Nationwide Arena and use our handy seating chart to decide which seating options are best for you.

Getting to Nationwide Arena (Transportation and Parking)

Visitors can access Nationwide Arena via public transportation or driving their own vehicle. The arena is located in Columbus, Ohio, which is a 2-hour drive from Cleveland and slightly under 2 hours by car from Cleveland. 

Getting to Nationwide Arena via public transportation

Your only option for getting to Nationwide Arena using public transportation is the local city bus. There are also several good hotels near the venue where you could stay and then walk tot the venue (perhaps stopping in a bar or restaurant in the Arena District en route…). It might be easier to take a taxi or rideshare to the venue than the bus. 

Getting to Nationwide Arena by car

Driving one’s own vehicle is the way that most visitors travel to Nationwide Arena and this is fairly straightforward as long as you come prepared for the increased traffic that builds up around the stadium during big games and events. Ensure that you leave plenty of time to arrive at the venue well before the start of your event. Check Nationwide Arena's official website for useful maps and detailed driving directions. 

Does Nationwide Arena have on-site parking?

Nationwide Arena has a lot of parking within walking distance (their website claims that there are over 15,000 spots) but parking availability can vary from event to event. The venue highly recommends purchasing prepaid reserved parking well in advance of your game or event on Nationwide Arena's official website (which also has useful parking information and directions). 

How much does Nationwide Arena parking cost?

Parking as cheap as $5-8 can be found during games and events at Nationwide Arena, but generally ranges between $10-25 for more popular events. Visit Nationwide Arena's official website to look for the cheapest prepaid parking rates.