Columbus, OH · Capacity: 18,500
Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Arena District of downtown Columbus.
Nationwide Arena is the home of the Blue Jackets and the anchor of Columbus's Arena District — a model of building a neighbourhood around a rink. A Civil War-style cannon fires after every Jackets goal.
Restaurants and bars surround it, walkable from downtown and the Short North.
Below are the Columbus stays, restaurants and bars fans use around Nationwide Arena.
Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Nationwide Arena in Columbus — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the arena first.
Occupying the landmark 1927 LeVeque Tower in downtown Columbus, this Autograph Collection hotel pairs art deco grandeur with modern luxury. Its Keep Bar serves craft cocktails with views of the Scioto River, and OSU fans in town for game day appreciate the walkable access to the Arena District.
The AC Hotel Columbus Short North is ideally positioned for sports fans targeting Ohio State games, Columbus Crew matches at Lower.com Field, and Blue Jackets games at Nationwide Arena, putting you within walking distance or a short Lyft of all three venues. The modern, design-forward rooms and rooftop bar make it a comfortable and stylish base, and the Short North's vibrant restaurant and bar scene ensures pre- and post-game options are steps from the front door. Traveling Ohio State recruits and visiting Big Ten athletic staff frequently stay here during campus visits.
Stylish boutique hotel near Ohio State campus dripping with Buckeye nostalgia and school spirit. Walking distance to The Horseshoe stadium. On game days, the lobby becomes a rally point for visiting fans, alumni, and celebrities attending big games.
A stunning art-forward boutique hotel in the Short North Arts District featuring rotating gallery exhibitions and a rooftop bar. Located between Ohio Stadium and Nationwide Arena, it's the stylish choice for visiting fans and sports media covering Buckeyes football and Blue Jackets hockey.
Arch City Tavern in the Short North is a favorite haunt for Ohio State Buckeyes fans and Columbus Crew supporters who pack in for every major match and game. The bar's extensive draft selection and large screen setup make it one of the best sports-watching venues in the city. On Buckeyes football Saturdays the place is draped in scarlet and gray from open to close.
A proudly Columbus craft brewery in the up-and-coming Franklinton neighborhood, Land-Grant's spacious taproom and patio are a favorite gathering point for Crew and Blue Jackets fans. Their Stiff-Arm IPA and Glory American Lager are local staples. The brewery frequently hosts watch parties and collaborates with Columbus sports teams on limited-edition releases.
Seventh Son Brewing in the Short North is Columbus' most celebrated independent craft brewery — a taproom where Ohio State Buckeyes fans and Blue Jackets hockey supporters coexist peacefully over some of Ohio's finest hop-forward ales. The Short North location puts it squarely in the heart of Columbus' fan cultural district, and on OSU home football Saturdays the patio and taproom become a beergarden overflow of scarlet-and-gray. The seasonal releases — especially the winter dark ales — have built a following across the Midwest.
Retro entertainment bar in the Short North with duckpin bowling, pinball, and craft cocktails. Ohio State Buckeyes fans extend the game-day party here with competitive fun and a lively social atmosphere after matches at the Horseshoe.
An Italian Village craft brewery that helped launch Columbus's now-thriving beer scene, known for its Humulus Nimbus super pale ale and welcoming taproom. Buckeye fans make it a pre-game ritual on Ohio State football Saturdays, just a short ride from the Horseshoe on High Street.
A free-play retro arcade bar in the Arena District loaded with classic games from the '80s and '90s, plus craft cocktails and local beers. 16-Bit is the ultimate pre-game hangout for Blue Jackets and Crew fans — play Pac-Man with a beer in hand before walking to Nationwide Arena or Lower.com Field. No cover, all the quarters are free.
Gallo's Kitchen in Short North offers hearty Italian-American fare that has made it a reliable pre-game destination for Columbus Crew and Ohio State fans navigating the High Street dining strip before heading to games. The family-style pasta portions and affordable wine list are ideal for large fan groups, and the Short North location puts you in the heart of Columbus's most energetic pre-game social scene. On Crew match days the patio fills with scarves and replica kits as fans carbo-load before the walk to Lower.com Field.
Columbus's historic public market since 1876, North Market Downtown houses dozens of independent food vendors steps from Nationwide Arena. From Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams to Momo Ghar's Nepalese dumplings, there's something for every fan. Blue Jackets and Crew supporters flood the market on game days, making it the unofficial food court of the Arena District.
Sloppy Crow near the Ohio State campus is a casual fan-friendly spot where Buckeyes faithful chow down on burgers, wings, and loaded fries before heading to the Horseshoe. The unpretentious atmosphere and generous portions have made it a beloved part of Columbus game-day traditions. Regulars claim a table by game morning and don't leave until the final whistle.
Columbus's most beloved brunch spot in the Short North Arts District. Southern-inspired dishes, craft cocktails, and a lively patio. OSU coaches, former Buckeyes, and visiting ESPN analysts crowd in on game weekends. The fried chicken and waffles are legendary.
A two-level downtown Columbus gem combining an upscale restaurant with a laid-back taproom, Wolf's Ridge Brewing serves inventive New American dishes alongside award-winning craft beers. Just blocks from Nationwide Arena, it's a top pick for Blue Jackets fans who want more than standard arena food. The brunch program on weekend game days is especially popular.
A beloved Columbus institution serving creative gourmet hot dogs with wild toppings in a funky, mural-covered space. After Buckeyes victories at The Horseshoe, the late-night crowds descend for dogs like the 'Buckeye Dog' — a perfect post-game Columbus tradition.
The Columbus Crew's purpose-built soccer-specific stadium features some of MLS's best supporter sections and an atmosphere that honors the club's status as an MLS founding member. Black and gold fills the stands as the Nordecke supporter group creates a wall of noise and color that rivals any fan section in American soccer.
Experience the Columbus Crew's $314 million downtown stadium, which opened in 2021 as one of MLS's premier soccer-specific venues. The Nordecke supporters' section delivers one of the most passionate atmospheres in American soccer, and the surrounding Confluence Village offers pregame food and drink options.
Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena anchors the Arena District entertainment neighborhood with a passionate hockey fan base that has grown significantly since the team's playoff runs. The cannon that fires after every Blue Jackets goal is one of hockey's most distinctive and startling traditions.
The Nordecke is the standing-room supporter section at Lower.com Field and the beating heart of Columbus Crew fandom, featuring non-stop chanting, tifo displays, and pyrotechnics on match days. Joining the Nordecke for a Crew game is one of the most immersive soccer fan experiences in MLS. The vibrant supporter culture extends to the surrounding tailgate areas before every home match.
Columbus' Short North Arts District — a mile-long stretch of galleries, restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and record shops on High Street — transforms into one of college football's great fan neighbourhoods on Ohio State home Saturdays, with scarlet-and-gray jerseys flooding every brunch spot and coffee shop from 8 am. The neighborhood's First Sunday Gallery Hops give music and arts fans a monthly cultural event that complements the sports calendar perfectly. Walking north from the Short North toward Ohio Stadium before a game is a Columbus fan pilgrimage that rivals any in college football.
The iconic Horseshoe is one of college football's most hallowed stadiums, seating over 100,000 scarlet-and-gray Buckeye faithful for games that rank among the sport's most electric atmospheres. Ohio State's rivalry game against Michigan and the history of legends like Archie Griffin and Eddie George make a Saturday in the Shoe a true pilgrimage.
Nationwide Arena in Columbus is tracked across 1 event and seats 18,500 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:
Structured facts on this page (capacity, opening year, architect, ownership) are compiled from public reference databases and verified against venue coordinates.
Check back for celebrity sighting reports from Nationwide Arena.
Nationwide Arena has a capacity of 18,500 people.
Nationwide Arena opened in 2000. It was designed by 360 Architecture.
Columbus Blue Jackets plays home games at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
2027 NCAA Women's Final Four are among the events held at Nationwide Arena.
