While the on-ice results have rarely been up to par, one thing is not debatable when we're talking about 25 years of NHL hockey in Central Ohio: the Nationwide Arena district is one of the best places to experience a game in the entire league. In fact, it's one of the best entertainment districts in the entire country, regardless the sport.
Nationwide Arena may be aging, but it's still very much near the top of the list of best buildings in the entire NHL. It has great sightlines, and there truly isn't a bad seat in the house. It's loud. We get one of the best concourses I've ever seen. And, a fantastic club level. The building itself is nothing short of remarkable. What it's done for the surrounding area has been incredible to see.
This wasn't always a nice part of Columbus. As a kid, I grew up not too far from here, in the Italian Village and Short North districts. The elementary school I went to sits a little less than a mile from Nationwide. Believe me when I tell you that this area was not the same trendy place it is now, 30 years ago.
Before the Blue Jackets were ever dreamt up, what is now the Arena District was one of the biggest eye sores in Columbus. The site was home to the Ohio Penitentiary, a crumbling relic of a bygone past. It was a dangerous area, fenced off to keep anyone from entering and getting hurt. More than anything, it was wasted space that desperately needed to be overhauled to help the city turn a new direction towards the future.
It would have been hard to call this the "heart" of downtown, but it wasn't far off. Across the street from the site stands Nationwide Plaza, home to one of the tallest buildings in Columbus. Just down the street, the city had a new convention center to showcase. The area was begging for something special on the site of the old Penn, but I'm not sure anyone expected the new Arena or the Blue Jackets to become so important.
When the referendum for a new arena was turned down, the late John H McConnell pivoted and told NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that an arena would still be built. Nationwide stepped in, and the rest is history.
A quarter of a century after building the arena, this entire area looks nothing like it did in the mid-late 90s. The neighborhood surrounding the arena has become the top entertainment destination in Central Ohio. It's now home to two other professional sports venues: Lower.com Field, home of the Crew; and Huntington Park, the new home of the Clippers. There is now a concert venue, a park, several restaurants and of course, the R Bar.
You can head to the Arena District any night of the week and find something to do, even if there aren't any games to be seen. However, if you get down there when there is a game going on; the area really comes alive. When the Blue Jackets are at home, the buzz around Nationwide Arena is something you have to see to appreciate.
You can head down early, grab a meal, explore the area, have a drink, and mingle with other fans. You don't even need a ticket to enjoy the festivities (though, it's better if you do). The Arena District has reshaped downtown Columbus into a place that people want to visit. It's meant more to the city than anyone might have guessed when the original referendum was voted down. Now, there is just one thing left to do...
The only thing missing: a winning tradition.
The Blue Jackets have yet to really take advantage of what could be a magical place to play. They only have a few playoff visits in their history, with just one series win to show for it. This is the only thing keeping Nationwide from gaining the national attention it deserves.
Imagine a playoff run lasting into May. Or, if we're really dreaming: mid-June. The plaza outside Nationwide Arena would be electric. Fans could gather in the area and catch the game via the big screen on the parking garage across from the plaza. The entire area was built to be a celebration of professional sports in Columbus. We just need a reason for the city to celebrate.
Hopefully, this iteration of the Blue Jackets can become the team to capture that magic.