Buy Columbus Blue Jackets Tickets Now!

Stadium:
Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena is a sports and entertainment arena in Columbus, Ohio. It opened in 2000 and is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a franchise in the National Hockey League, who were joined for the 2004 season by the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League. It was also home to the Columbus Landsharks of the National Lacrosse League from 2001-2003. And, in 2006 it began hosting the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets, a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team that is a part of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Nationwide Arena is also one of three facilities in Columbus (along with the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the Franklin County Veterens Memorial Auditorium) that hosts events as part of the annual Arnold Classic, a sports and fitness event hosted by former professional bodybuilder and current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Seating Chart:
Nationwide Arena Seating Chart

Team History:
On June 23, 2000, the NHL's two newest teams, the Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, took part in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary, Alberta. Under the draft's rules, twenty-six of the NHL's active twenty-eight teams allowed to protect one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards, or, two net minders, three blueliners and seven forwards. The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators both had their full rosters protected as they had only been in existence for one and two years, respectively. Both the Jackets and Wild were to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards. Their final two picks could be of any position.

Season Preview:
The Blue Jackets are a team that's teetering. They appear on the brink of breaking out and jumping into the playoffs for the first time in team history, while, at the same time, just as close to falling into the abyss, squandering the goodwill of one of the best fan bases of all the new franchises. So, what'll it be? There's no question the Blue Jackets annually suffer more crippling injuries than any other NHL team. In 2003-04, the entire defense seemed to go down at the same time. Last season, Rick Nash was lost for the first third of the campaign with an ankle injury, putting a huge hole in the Blue Jackets' offense. This season, the injuries started early with centers Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Svitov going down in preseason action. But assuming Nash is healthy, the Blue Jackets have better depth than they've ever had with Fredrik Modin coming over from Tampa for Marc Denis, and the late-summer signing of 33-goal man Anson Carter. Given the team's desperation to make the playoffs, it is curious that GM Doug MacLean has chosen to take a hard line with emerging star Nikolai Zherdev, who appears ready to play out the season in Russia.

Official Site:
http://bluejackets.nhl.com/