What Would a Stanley Cup Championship Look Like in Columbus?

Now that the Vegas Golden Knights have won the Stanley Cup, their fanbase gets to celebrate. From a distance, watching the celebration brings envy to any fans’ eye. That got us wondering…what would a Stanley Cup championship look like in Columbus?

A run to the Stanley Cup and capture of the chalice would probably cause an earthquake in the greater 614 area code. This fanbase would go bananas. The noise level inside Nationwide would be deafening. Tears of joy would flood the lower concourse of Nationwide. Fans watching from the short north would feel the vibrations from arena.

Thousands of fans would be partying in the streets and downtown traffic would be at a complete standstill. Smiles abundant throughout central Ohio. A parade in downtown Columbus would certainly bring out the masses and shut the city down for a day. Fans from all walks of life would be in attendance for a chance to see their team hoisting the Stanley Cup. Local celebrities, heroes, and advocates would come together to help honor the tremendous achievement. This city would experience a feeling that it has never felt before.

Why do we have confidence that this fanbase would go crazy for a Stanley Cup Championship? Just look at recent history. This past season, the Blue Jackets finished 2nd to last in the regular season standings. Despite the losing, the team averaged 16,860 fans per home game, which is 93.5% attendance. Many of the games, especially late in the season, were sold out. For a team that was playing poorly and frankly had little to cheer for, it is impressive that the fans turned out in the fashion that they did.

Go back a little further to the 2019 playoff run. All home playoff games were sold out (standing room only) and many fans were watching on the big screen outside Nationwide Arena during the games. That was just for the first two rounds. Between rounds 1 and 2, there was an open practice (on a Tuesday) that attracted around 4,000 fans. Then coach John Tortorella was so impressed that so many fans came to watch a practice on a weekday. He joked: “Does anybody in this town work?”

Columbus is a sports town, plain and simple. The citizens of this town love and support their teams. Whether it be Ohio State Football on a fall Saturday, Crew Soccer on a warm summer evening, or Blue Jackets hockey on a cold winter’s night. The fans turn out, they care, and they hunger for a winner.

As a hockey city, Columbus is a hidden gem. While people outside of Columbus may not understand or care, this city has and always will love the Blue Jackets. The fans have endured a lot of pain over the last 23 years. In most fanbases, the average fan would give up their support with as much disappointment that this organization has experienced. Not Columbus fans. The term ‘giving up’ isn’t in our vocabulary. CBJ fans continue to hope, support, and push their team. That love for the game has spilled into the local rinks. More and more kids are playing hockey. It is becoming more common for players from the Columbus area to be drafted into the NHL, which is a testament to how much the game has developed and grown in central Ohio.

While a Stanley Cup Championship is unlikely this upcoming season, CBJ fans should stay patient. Our time will come. Until that time, never give up hope, never ease your support, and never stop being you.