Nationwide Arena is the downtown Columbus, Ohio home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and one of the few U.S. major-league arenas built with its own attached practice rink. Since opening in 2000, it has anchored the surrounding Arena District and hosted everything from an NHL All-Star Game to NCAA tournament basketball.
This guide covers everything a visitor or fan needs: seating capacity by event type, parking and directions, how tickets work, the arena’s design and history, and the $400 million renovation Columbus officials are now planning for the venue’s next chapter.
Quick Answer
Nationwide Arena, located at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard in downtown Columbus, Ohio, opened September 9, 2000, and has been the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets ever since. It seats about 18,500 for hockey, up to 19,500 for basketball, and up to 20,000 for concerts, and sits in the Arena District alongside more than 15,000 nearby parking spaces.
Nationwide Arena at a Glance
Team(s): Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL, 2000–present) and Columbus Fury (professional volleyball, 2024–present). Location: 200 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Opened: September 9, 2000. Capacity: about 18,500 for hockey (up to 19,500 with standing room), 19,500 for basketball, and up to 20,000 for concerts. Owner: Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority. Operator: Columbus Arena Management. Notable fact: hosted the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.
History and Design
Nationwide Arena was built on the former site of the Ohio Penitentiary’s parking lot, part of a broader effort to redevelop the derelict prison grounds north of downtown Columbus. Designed by Heinlein Schrock Stearns and NBBJ at a construction cost of about $175 million, it opened on September 9, 2000, giving the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets a home for their inaugural NHL season.
The arena stands out among major-league venues for the OhioHealth IceHaus, an on-site practice facility attached to the main building, which made it the first NHL arena constructed with a dedicated practice rink under the same roof. It’s owned by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and operated by Columbus Arena Management.
Seating Capacity and Configurations
Nationwide Arena’s bowl is built to flex between sports and entertainment. For Blue Jackets hockey, capacity runs about 18,500, expanding to roughly 19,500 with standing-room areas. Basketball configurations (used for NCAA tournament games and other events) also hold about 19,500. For concerts, where the ice is covered and floor seating is added, capacity climbs to as much as 20,000, making it one of the larger touring-show venues in Ohio.
Seating layouts change by event, so the exact chart, section map, and premium options (suites, club seats, loge boxes) are published per-event on the arena’s official ticketing pages rather than fixed year-round.
Planning Your Visit: Parking, Address, and Tickets
Nationwide Arena is at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215, in the heart of the Arena District just north of downtown. More than 15,000 parking spaces are available within about a 10-minute walk, spread across surface lots and parking garages; the McConnell Garage and Front Street Garage are the recommended entrances for accessible parking, with guest drop-off along West Street. Advance parking reservations for events can be purchased through the Arena District’s official ParkMobile portal, and COTA public bus routes also serve the arena from multiple directions.
Tickets for Blue Jackets games, concerts, and other events are sold through the arena’s official box office and authorized ticketing partners; pricing varies by event, seating tier, and demand, so treat any third-party listing as a starting point rather than a fixed rate. For current hours, parking rates, box office contact information, and on-sale dates, check the official Nationwide Arena website before you go.
The Game-Day Experience
Nationwide Arena sits at the heart of Columbus’s Arena District, a neighborhood of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues that grew up around the building after it opened in 2000. ESPN The Magazine once ranked it among the top stadium experiences in professional sports, citing its sightlines and downtown atmosphere.
Beyond Blue Jackets hockey, the arena regularly hosts concerts, college basketball and hockey, WWE and UFC events, and touring shows, drawing on its flexible seating that shifts from an 18,500-seat hockey bowl to a 20,000-capacity concert configuration. Since 2024, it has also served as home ice-turned-court for the Columbus Fury of professional volleyball.
A Legacy That Changed the NHL
Nationwide Arena is tied to one of the most consequential safety changes in NHL history. On March 16, 2002, a deflected puck struck and killed 13-year-old fan Brittanie Cecil during a Blue Jackets game, prompting the league to mandate protective netting behind the goals in every arena, a rule still in place today across professional and international hockey.
The venue also carries civic significance as the first major project to redevelop Columbus’s former penitentiary grounds, helping transform the area into the thriving Arena District that now surrounds it.
The $400 Million Renovation Ahead
Now 25 years old, Nationwide Arena is entering a new era. In 2025, the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority outlined a roughly $400 million renovation and expansion plan intended to modernize the building over an estimated four-to-five-year span through a public-private partnership. Crews had already spent about $60 million in 2025 on essential work like a new roof.
The proposed upgrades include an expanded main entrance, a rooftop terrace connected to an upper-concourse food hall, and roughly $323 million earmarked for elevators, fire suppression systems, restrooms, and concessions. Funding is expected to come from a mix of state grants, local government, bonds, and private sources, with organizers seeking around $100 million in state support to kick off the project. Check the official arena site for the latest on renovation timing before planning a visit years out.
Nationwide Arena FAQs
When did Nationwide Arena open?
Nationwide Arena opened on September 9, 2000, in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Who plays home games at Nationwide Arena?
The Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL have played their home games at Nationwide Arena since the team’s inaugural 2000 season, and the Columbus Fury professional volleyball team has played there since 2024.
What is the seating capacity of Nationwide Arena?
Nationwide Arena seats about 18,500 for hockey (up to 19,500 with standing room), 19,500 for basketball, and up to 20,000 for concerts.
Where is Nationwide Arena located, and is parking available?
Nationwide Arena is at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard in Columbus’s Arena District. More than 15,000 parking spaces sit within about a 10-minute walk in nearby garages and surface lots, with advance parking bookable through the Arena District’s official parking portal.
How do I buy tickets to a Blue Jackets game or event at Nationwide Arena?
Tickets are sold through the arena’s official box office and authorized ticketing partners; check the official Nationwide Arena website for current on-sale dates, box office phone numbers, and pricing tiers.
Is Nationwide Arena being renovated?
Yes. In 2025, officials outlined a roughly $400 million renovation and expansion plan for Nationwide Arena, covering the entrance, concourses, roof, and mechanical systems over an estimated four-to-five-year timeline.
What makes Nationwide Arena unique among NHL venues?
It was the first NHL arena built with an attached practice facility, the OhioHealth IceHaus, and it anchors downtown Columbus’s Arena District, a neighborhood built up specifically around the venue after it opened in 2000.
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