Milestones
Nationwide Arena Milestones
Over the last two decades, Nationwide Arena has hosted many of the world's greatest artists and events and borne witness to millions of triumphs, celebrations, heartaches, defeats and all of the milestone moments in between.
Today we look back and commemorate 20 years since the birth and founding of Nationwide Arena, home to the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets, with a timeline of special dates, and a glimpse into fans and followers favorite memories through the years.
Credit: Columbus Blue Jackets
June 25, 1997
Columbus awarded
an NHL team
June, 1997
Nationwide Arena Plans Approved
May 26, 1998
Ground breaks on construction of Nationwide Arena
September 8, 2000
Grand Opening held for Nationwide Arena
September 9 & 10, 2000
Nationwide Arena opened to the public with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill "Soul to Soul" tour
September 18, 2000
The first version of Stinger surfs the boards in front of the Columbus Blue Jackets bench at Nationwide Arena
September 20, 2000
First Columbus Blue Jackets Exhibition Game vs. Detroit Red Wings
Credit: Columbus Blue Jackets
Credit: Columbus Blue Jackets
October 7, 2000
First Columbus Blue Jackets Regular Season Game vs. Chicago Blackhawks
June 22, 2007
Nationwide Arena hosts 45th NHL Entry Draft
April 21, 2009
Nationwide Arena hosts record hockey crowd of 19,219 fans for first postseason game
March 16 & 18, 2012
2012 NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament host for second and third-round games
Credit: Columbus Blue Jackets
January 22 - 25, 2015
Nationwide Arena hosts NHL All-Star Game
March 30 & April 1, 2018
2018 NCAA Women's Division 1 Basketball Tournament host for semi-finals and National Championship game
April 19, 2018
A record-breaking attendance for a home game of 19,395 fans watched game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs
Nationwide Arena Construction Time Lapse
The Arena District: A Billion-Dollar Belt
