Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Nationwide Arena Seating Chart.
It is home to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Home of the Blue Jackets in the Arena District
Nationwide Arena is the downtown Columbus arena at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard, the anchor of the Arena District on the north edge of downtown. It is home to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL and the Columbus Fury professional volleyball team, and it books arena concerts, NCAA basketball tournament rounds and figure skating. It seats 18,500 for hockey, 19,500 for basketball and 20,000 for concerts. For hockey, the best seats are the lower-level sideline sections between the blue lines, about 10 rows up, where the glass is below your eye line and you can follow both nets.
Unlike many arenas on this site, Nationwide Arena has never changed its name. It is named for Nationwide Mutual Insurance, its original majority owner, which paid to keep the naming rights through 2022; the name remains on the building and the arena's site as of 2026. Any seating chart labeled Nationwide Arena applies.
Lower 100s, club level and upper 200s
Section details below come from RateYourSeats' Blue Jackets guide and the arena's A–Z guide, which references 100-level sections on the main concourse and 200-level sections on the upper concourse.
Lower level (100s)
The lower bowl wraps the rink. RateYourSeats places the Blue Jackets bench in front of section 103 and the visitors' bench in front of 104. Row A of each lower section is the glass row, the closest seats to the ice. The Lexus Lounge occupies rows B through M in sections 114 and 115, behind the penalty boxes, with all-inclusive food and drink on Blue Jackets nights.
Club level (C1–C13)
The second tier holds club sections C1 through C13 on the north and east sides, each about eight rows deep, with club amenities behind. It is the arena's best combination of height and closeness.
Upper level (200s)
The upper bowl rises above the club ring and suites. Its front rows on the sidelines see the whole sheet, and the Turf Terrace, a group area for up to 400 fans, sits at press level near the top of the building.
Best seats for hockey, basketball and concerts
Blue Jackets hockey
- Best overall: lower sideline sections near center ice, about 10 rows or more up.
- Watch Columbus attack: RateYourSeats puts the Blue Jackets' shoot-twice end near sections 105 and 106, where you see the home team attack in the first and third periods. Confirm on the event map, since the arena does not publish it.
- Height and amenities: the club sections C1–C13.
- Value: front rows of the 200s along the sidelines.
- The cannon: a replica Civil War-era cannon fires during Blue Jackets games, most loudly after Columbus goals. RateYourSeats says it is on display outside section 101 before the game.
Basketball
For college basketball, the home bench is typically in front of sections 102–103 and the visitors in front of 104–105. Lower sideline seats are the prime choice; the ends cost less and show the near basket well.
Concerts
For most end-stage shows, the floor is split into eight sections: 1–3 at the front, 4–6 in the middle and 7–8 at the rear. Lower sections along the sides near the stage are the best elevated seats. RateYourSeats singles out section 106 as a weak choice for concerts despite being strong for hockey.
Seats to think twice about
- Glass seats for following play: thrilling up close, but the boards hide action along the near wall.
- Upper corners: the most distant seats, with sharp angles.
- Sections beside or behind a concert stage: limited views and often not sold.
Nationwide Arena parking and getting downtown
The arena says more than 15,000 parking spaces lie within a 10-minute walk, in surface lots and garages. The two garages it names are the McConnell and Front Street garages. Event parking can be bought in advance through the Arena District's ParkMobile site or on event day, with rates varying by lot and garage; as of 2026, prepaying is the faster way in on a sellout night.
COTA buses serve the area. Lines 1, 2 and 5 stop at North High Street and Ohio Center Way, a block east of the arena; lines 3 and 8 stop at Neil Avenue and Vine Street, a short walk north; lines 6 and 9 stop at West Nationwide Boulevard and North Front Street, a block east. All rideshare pickups and drop-offs use West Street. For accessible parking, the arena suggests the north entrance of the McConnell garage or the northeast entrance of the Front Street garage, and a drop-off area for guests with special needs runs along McConnell Boulevard.
Bag policy and arena rules
As of 2026, the arena's A–Z guide says bags are generally not permitted. Check the Nationwide Arena A–Z guide before you go.
- Allowed: medical bags, diaper bags, and clutches no larger than 8 by 5 by 1 inches.
- Lockers: Binbox lockers at McConnell Boulevard and Front Street can hold select oversized items after secondary screening.
- Payment: cashless for concessions and the Team Shop; Cash-2-Card reverse ATMs are at the Ticketmaster box office and on both concourses.
- Smoking: no designated areas inside, and fans who leave to smoke are not readmitted.
- Strollers and wagons: prohibited unless assisting a guest with a medical condition.
Complimentary wheelchair escorts are available at any entry with no advance arrangement.
Built beside the old penitentiary: a short history
Ground was broken on May 26, 1998, near the site of the former Ohio Penitentiary, on what had been the prison's parking lot. The arena cost about 175 million dollars and opened on September 9, 2000, for the Blue Jackets' first season. Its attached practice rink, now the OhioHealth Ice Haus, made it the first NHL arena with an on-site practice facility. The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority bought the arena on March 30, 2012, from Nationwide and the Dispatch Publishing Group.
- 2007: the NHL Entry Draft.
- 2015: the NHL All-Star Game.
- 2004 to 2023: NCAA men's tournament rounds in six seasons, plus the 2018 women's Final Four.
- March 5, 2022: a Blue Jackets attendance record of 19,434, against Boston.
- 2024: the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
The arena has also housed arena football's Columbus Destroyers and lacrosse's Columbus Landsharks. More is in the Wikipedia entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nationwide Arena's capacity?
It seats 18,500 for hockey, 19,500 for basketball and 20,000 for concerts.
Has Nationwide Arena ever had another name?
No. It has been Nationwide Arena since it opened in 2000, named for Nationwide Mutual Insurance, its original majority owner.
What is the Nationwide Arena bag policy?
As of 2026, bags are generally not allowed. Medical bags, diaper bags and clutches up to 8 by 5 by 1 inches are permitted after screening.
Where should I park for Nationwide Arena?
The McConnell and Front Street garages serve the arena, and more than 15,000 spaces lie within a 10-minute walk. Prepaying through the Arena District's ParkMobile site saves time.
Where do the Blue Jackets sit?
RateYourSeats places the Blue Jackets bench in front of section 103 and the visitors in front of 104.
Is Nationwide Arena cashless?
Yes. Concessions and the Team Shop take cards and mobile wallets, and Cash-2-Card kiosks convert cash to a card.