Long journey to see the cannon
by Sunner22 on 3/5/19Nationwide Arena - ColumbusRating: 4 out of 5Drove to Columbus from Connecticut in a snow storm to see the Cannon

Official Ticket Marketplace of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets History
The Columbus Blue Jackets—whose name pays tribute to Ohio's substantial contributions to the Union army during the Civil War—joined the NHL as an expansion franchise in 2000.
The Blue Jackets played their first 12 seasons as a member of the Western Conference, making their first foray into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2008-2009 led by All-Star winger Rick Nash and Rookie of the Year goaltender Steve Mason.
NHL realignment saw the team move to the Eastern Conference in 2013-2014, and the Blue Jackets have since collected six winning seasons and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times. Columbus was one of just three teams to earn playoff berths in four consecutive seasons from 2016-2020, joining the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.
In 2018-2019, the eighth-seeded Blue Jackets faced off against the Presidents' Trophy-winning and top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Jackets shocked the heavily-favored Lightning as they became the first team in NHL history to earn a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs against a team with the league's best regular-season record.
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Info
Conference: Eastern
Division: Metropolitan
Year Founded: 2000
Team Colors: Union Blue, Goal Red, Capital Silver, White
Team Rivals: Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena
The Columbus Blue Jackets have played at Nationwide Arena(Opens in new tab) since their inaugural season in 2000. Located in the heart of The Arena District downtown, the arena features a 1857 Napoleon replica cannon that blasts when the Blue Jackets hit the ice at the start of the game, when they score, and at the end of the game following a Columbus win.

Welcome to the home of the NHL's Blue Jackets.
The Columbus Blue Jackets schedule for the 2025–26 regular season can be viewed on Ticketmaster.
Tickets for the 2025–26 regular season can be purchased on Ticketmaster, the Official Ticket Marketplace of the Columbus Blue Jackets. And if you're thinking about last-minute tickets, all tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are 100% verified and instantly delivered to your phone.
Ticket prices for Columbus Blue Jackets games depend on a variety of factors, including date and time, city, matchup, seat location, and when the tickets are purchased. The average ticket for a Columbus Blue Jackets game can cost anywhere between $30-$150.
The Blue Jackets have never appeared in the Stanley Cup Final.
The seating map for Nationwide Arena can be viewed on Ticketmaster(Opens in new tab).
Drove to Columbus from Connecticut in a snow storm to see the Cannon
easy to get to seats. staff are courteous and helpful. restrooms clean. food and drinks are good and plentiful, but just a bit expensive. parking was convenient and reasonable at $ 15.00.
Special shout out to security folks, ticket checkers, ushers. How do you all ever find so many people who are professional and super friendly. The hockey is good, the food and drink are quality, but it’s event staff that always impress us. Grateful...
Great evening out. Game was awesome, crowd excitement was high, and the Arena staff was very helpful and professional.
Great time arena was awesome, would do it again. Very fan friendly, parking right across the street from the arena was convenient and not that costly.
Easy to get to arena and parking was close to entrance. Staff was friendly and helpful. Seat we’re easy to find and good view of ice and action. Overall a great time and experience. Even ushers we’re willing to take pictures for us
Our 1st NHL experience with a group of 12 year old boys we took to the game. We all loved the experience inside and outside the arena.
Loved the seats ! I really like how you can see what the view is like from your seats before you buy them. Will definitely try to get seats in the same section again .
I love how easy it is to go to the games. Never have ticket or entry problems!
While the results of the game were disappointing, it wasn't unexpected. CBJ played pretty well and gave a good effort, but when you play a more talented team, more often than not you won't prevail. Still a fun time and a great experience. Seats were good and the people around were as well. Nationwide Arena is a nice place to watch a hockey game. Temperature is usually comfortable, concession stands are plentiful, and the lines to the men's room moves pretty quickly. Would go again...and probably will.
Wrong team won but that was the only dim spot on the night. Ticket purchase was easy. Always easy to get in/out of Nationwide. Great time on date night with wife.
Great atmosphere in the arena provides a fun experience while watching the game.
Great trip. Great arena. If you like hockey, you should see the CBJ
So with sports, the product is the product. What happens on the ice is beyond the control of the folks that are putting on the show. The experience of watching the game is a different matter. I have Celiacs. Like those with food allergies and the like, I have to be rather careful in my choices. Some places that I go to are very adept and trying to provide a good experience for all and some are not. When I go to a Blue Jackets game I know ahead of time that I will not have many choices when it comes to concessions. Popcorn and chips are about it as the folks at the stands have no clue as to what is in the items they sell. Chipotle can do it, Red Robin, Condados, and a number of other food choices big and small can do it too. Even if there was one stand within the arena, that would be a start. It seems to me that the folks at Nationwide are trying to offer more choices to improve the experience and hopefully they will begin to include those of us on the fringes.
Great idea for a night out with my wife. Many food choices and 24 oz. beers reasonably priced for a sporting event. Only thing better would be if they won that night.
Ticketmaster experience was fine. Blue Jackets play not so much.
The seats were way too close together. You would think after paying $150 for a seat you could be comfortable
Watching the Jackets is always a good time. I especially appreciate how well the people working outside guide traffic. It’s always an easy ride home to relive highlights of the game.
Wild ride, down, great come back then they lose.still nothing better than live hockey!
Love my hockey games! I enjoy going to them and even if they loose it's still always a great time