One of the most beautiful and unique sports and entertainment venues in the world, Nationwide Arena opened its doors in September 2000 with the nation's only two-night performance of the sold-out "Soul to Soul" tour featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
Nationwide Arena is the home of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets, the National Lacrosse League's Columbus Landsharks and a wide variety of world-class entertainment events.
Located on the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Front Street in downtown Columbus, the $150 million facility raises the bar of excellence for sports and entertainment facilities. The following unique features separate Nationwide Arena from its peers:
* Two 80-foot towers anchoring the western interior of the seating bowl that houses party suites
* A 70-foot, glass-enclosed atrium
* Open lobbies and concourses that allow fans a great view of the ice as soon as they walk through the door
* Elegant design featuring terrazzo floors
* Brick pillars and marble details
* A 135-foot light tower at the southeast corner
Nationwide Arena is the only building in the Hockey League that has the team's practice facility, CoreComm Ice Haus, attached to the arena where the team plays its games. The CoreComm Ice Haus is not only the practice home of the team, but is open to the public as well.
Nationwide Arena is the centerpiece of the Arena District, Columbus' newest entertainment area. This trendy section of downtown development is a unique mixture of business, entertainment and residential space that attracts a broad spectrum of tenants and visitors from across the country.
By Adam Young, thanks Adam
June 16, 2001
There is no place in the world that a true Blue Jackets fan would rather be than inside Nationwide Arena on the night of a game. From the moment one walks in the door, it is apparent that the builders designed Nationwide Arena with the Blue Jackets fan in mind. Aside from presenting a wide variety of concerts year-round, and professional Lacrosse games as well, Nationwide Arena is making a name for itself as one of the best NHL arenas in existence. Its spaciousness awes you from the moment you walk in, to the moment you leave. Instead of packing into tiny corridors between periods, fans at Nationwide Arena can mingle with friends in a three-story, wide open atrium which runs the length of the building along one side. They can look through a set of glass windows onto the ice in the CoreComm Ice Haus, where the Blue Jackets practice on-site, and which is open for public skating much of the time. Or they can sample a variety of foods ranging from the famous local Donato's Pizza, to barbequed pulled pork sandwhiches, right down to your plain old hot dog. Beer is available in bottles or on draft, and can be purchased from vendors which roam the aisles during play as well.
From the front row, to the Bud Light Party Terrace high above the rink, there is not a bad seat in the arena. The chairs are all comfortable with good sightlines. However, don't get too comfortable in your seat, as the action of the ice is sure to have you on your feet and cheering wildly. Columbus supports its teams. The Blue Jackets are no exception. With a great arena to play in, and great fans to back them up, the Blue Jackets should look forward to many years of NHL hockey right here in Columbus, OH.
A Clear Example of Inspired Architecture
Inspired by the game. The city. And the fans. This is more than an arena. It's a source of pride for the Blue Jackets. And for you. The steel and brick represent strength and stability. The abundance of glass pays tribute to the vision that made this arena a reality. And the tower of light is a signal to everyone that the team, city, and fans have arrived.
The Vision to Lead
In many ways, this arena was a logical next step. For Nationwide¨ Insurance and for Columbus. As any resident of this city knows, Nationwide¨ has always stepped to the front. In support of the arts. Education. And countless community endeavors. The Nationwide ArenaSM is the latest example of a corporate citizen and a city moving forward together.
- "The Nationwide ArenaSM will be a catalyst for additional, exciting development in downtown Columbus. It will be a home for world-class entertainment and convention facilities - something for everyone in this wonderful community. Your purchase of a personal seat license will help to ensure that you can be a part of this exciting future."
-Dimon Richard McFerson (Chairman and CEO, Nationwide Insurance Enterprise¨)
A Controlled Explosion
The arena is a catalyst. For growth. For development. For renovation. Restaurants, shops, galleries, businesses. They will surround the arena on all sides. And spread out in all directions. Along with Miranova and COSI, Nationwide ArenaSM will anchor the development that transforms the Scioto River Peninsula into downtown's most dynamic setting. Where pedestrian walkways, bridges and parks will lead to an eclectic collection of entertainment, dining and shopping options. Throughout the entire riverfront corridor.
Endless Opportunities
Concerts. Shows. Exhibitions. The circus. The Nationwide ArenaSM will be home to more than the Columbus Blue Jackets. In fact, this facility will serve as a regional entertainment hub. And will allow us to attract many events to Columbus for the first time.
Every Fan's Dream
This arena was made for you. All 700,000 square feet of it. Incredible sight-lines to view the action. From every one of the 18,500 seats. With wide concourses that make it easy to get from point A to point B. Like from your seat to a concessions area, for example. Where you'll find an upscale offering to satisfy every taste. We've even made it easy to get your hands on all the Blue Jackets merchandise. There's a team shop right inside the arena. And if you ever feel like hitting the ice yourself, the Chiller will be right next door.
Arena District
The Arena District plans to be a unique urban village of housing, retail and office space under development in the area adjacent to Nationwide Arena. Nationwide is currently working on the infrastructure needed to support development in the area. Construction on the Arena Park is already underway and will be completed by late October 1999. East and West Streets, bordering the park, were completed in September 1999. In addition, Nationwide Boulevard, between Front Street and Neil Avenue will be completed by the end of November 1999.
The privately financed Arena and Arena District will include several features including:
* Nationwide Boulevard will be repaved in brick. It will be the backbone of the district, lined with restraurants, shops and cafes.
* Arena Square, being developed at the west entrance to Nationwide Arena, will serve as a gathering place surrounded by restraunts and clubs. Planners envision special lighting, video boards and large signs to create a mini Times Square on the Scioto atmosphere.
* Arena Park is a grass mallway 870 feet long and 280 feet wide at its widest part. The park's south end will have large grass terraces leading down to the Scioto riverfront. Its north end features the relocated Union Station Arch, designed by famed architect Daniel Burnham.
* Clusters of brick, upscale apartments will be built west of Arena Park. A total of 350 units, built on the former Ohio Penitentiary site, will include views of the river and park.
The bulk of the arena district, which includes the 23-acre old Pen site will be developed by Nationwide Realty Investors (90 percent) and The Dispatch Printing Co. (10 percent). The plans also include:
* 200,000 square feet of retail/entertainment development around Arena Square at the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and West Street.
* 1.3 million square feet of office space, with most of it West and South of Nationwide Arena.
* A total of six parking garages, providing ample space allow people to park their cars and experience the Arena and Arena District.
Nationwide Arena Facts
* Arena Size: 685,000 square feet.
* Total Project Size: 800,000 square feet; includes practice rink, office building, and retail space.
* Seating Capacity: 18,138 for hockey; 19,500 for basketball; approximately 20,000 for concerts.
* Premium Seating: 3,200 premium seats available (including Club, Suite, Tower, Skybox, and Center Ice configurations).
* Parking Spaces: 560-space attached parking garage, with an additional 10,000 spaces within a 10-minute walk.
* Architects: Heinlein + Schrock, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.; and NBBJ of Columbus. Construction Managers: Turner/Barton Malow Sports, Miles-McClellan Construction Co.
* Unique Features: Separate practice rink, which will be open to the public for skating and viewing. Signature restaurant of 7,500-10,000 square feet. Attached retail shops, restaurants, and office space.
* Excavation will remove 100,000 cubic yards of dirt from the arena site. This equals the amount of dirt displaced excavating basements for 116 homes (average home size of 2,000 square feet).
* Nationwide Arena will require 36,000 cubic yards of concrete to complete construction. This is enough concrete to build basement walls for 732 homes (average home size of 2,000 square feet).
* The arena will require 5,200 tons of reinforced steel. If stretched in a continuous line of 1/2-inch pipe, this amount of steel would be 2,963 miles long -- about the distance from Columbus to Seattle, Wash.
* Nationwide Arena will use 6,400 tons of structural steel. This equals the amount of structural steel used to make 8,600 cars.
* The Blue Jackets' practice rink, which will also be open for public skating.
* A four-story, 60,000-square-foot office building, with some office views to the arena interior, on its northeast side.
* Two 80-foot towers to anchor the west end of the arena. The towers will house four platforms for luxury seating and will be topped with huge video boards.
* An asymmetrical bowl, with telescopic upper deck seating in the west end, which will allow for a variety of reconfigurations for concerts and other performances.
* A 70-foot, glass-enclosed atrium, open lobbies and concourses to allow visitors to immediately feel part of the action.
* Uniquely-designed seating will provide superior sight lines throughout and 76 luxury suites and 22 loge boxes will provide additional amenities.
Privately financed and developed by Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and the Dispatch Printing Company.
In addition to serving as the home of the Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena will host a variety of family entertainment including concerts, ice shows, and other sporting events.
The arena is designed as a mixed-use facility that will integrate into its downtown surroundings. A pedestrian-friendly building, the arena's west, east and south sides will house street-level shops and restaurants. A Blue Jackets team store will anchor the southeast corner.
The red brick arena exterior will allow the structure to blend with the existing turn-of-the-century architecture of its neighbors. A 135-foot light tower will add illumination to the downtown sky.
Highway Directions
Directions to Downtown and the Arena District
NORTHBOUND (I - 71)
Proceed North on I-71 to the Front St. Exit. Turn Left at the Front St. intersection and proceed North. Proceed North on Front St. to Event Parking Entrances
SOUTHBOUND (I - 71)
(East side of the Arena District) Proceed South on I-71 to the Spring St. Exit. Make a Right at the Spring St. Exit and proceed West to Fourth St. Make a Right at Fourth St. and proceed North to Chestnut St. Make a Left at Chestnut St. and proceed to the Event Parking Entrances
SOUTHBOUND (I - 71)
(West side of the Arena District) Proceed South on I-71 to I-670 West to the High St. Exit (the orange sign says “Convention Center Only”). Then turn LEFT at the stop sign. You will then follow the CFA Roadway which turns into Kilbourne take that until you come to the stop sign
at the corner of Kilbourne and Vine (about a half block down). Turn left onto Vine then go to Neil and turn left again.
EASTBOUND (I - 70)
Proceed East on I-70 to the Front St. exit then make a left at Front St. and proceed North. Proceed North on Front St. to Event Parking Entrances
WESTBOUND (I - 70)
Proceed West on I-70 to the Fourth St. Exit. Continue West on Fulton St. to Front St. Make a Right at Front St. and proceed North. Proceed North on Front St. to Event Parking Entrances.
SOUTHBOUND (SR - 315)
SR-315 traffic coming from the west may access the Arena District via Neil Avenue (as usual). If you would normally take I-670 from 315
N. and exit 3rd, you should now exit Neil Avenue and turn right
go to Nationwide Boulevard and turn left to access
the East side of the Arena District.
WESTBOUND (I - 670)
Proceed West on I-670 to the Third St. Exit.
Proceed South on Third St. to Chestnut St. Make Right at Chestnut St. and proceed to the Event Parking Entrances.
THE ULTIMATE SPORTS ROAD TRIP
By: Andrew Kulyk & Peter Farrell
| Nationwide Arena Ranking by USRT |
| Architecture |  | 8.5 |
| Concessions | | 9 |
| Scoreboard | | 6 |
| Ushers | | 7 |
| Fan Support | | 7.5 |
| Location | | 9.5 |
| Banners/History | | 3 |
| Entertainment | | 8 |
| Concourses/Fan Comfort | | 8 |
| Bonus: Practice Rink | | 2 |
| Bonus: Arena District | | 1 |
| Bonus: USRT Red Carpet | | 4 |
| Total Score |  | 73.5 |
November 5, 2000 & January 20, 2003 - For 20 years Columbus tried to land themselves a pro hockey team, and again and again, the public sector refused to kick in. So finally a consortium of private moneys was put together to build their new hockey arena, and the NHL rewarded Columbus with an expansion team, and play began in 2000. And what a splendid new hockey arena it is!
Getting to the Venue
The arena is situated on the north side of downtown Columbus, and signage off of I-670 or I-71 will direct you right to the Arena District. From I-71 the Spring St exit is your best bet. Parking around the arena is abundant, with the lot directly across from Arena Square running $15, but most lots in any direction run $5 or $7.
Outside the Venue
Nationwide Arena is the anchor building for what has already become the "Arena District". We walked about 4 blocks from our parking lot to the arena, and every building we passed was either open for business or in the process of being gutted and refurbished. The main street, Nationwide Blvd, has being repaved in brick, and the main entrance to the arena spills out into Arena Square, which serves as a gathering place surrounded by restaurants and entertainment in a "Times Square" type setting. Across the street is a parking ramp, emblazoned with a huge "Arena District" marquee, a massive Daktronics video board and a series of changeable ad panels. On our second visit, we counted at least a dozen restaurants and bistros just steps from the front door, all great places to visit before and after the game.
Concourses
The management took tours of many NHL venues to cull great ideas for their project - and from our travels we can detect similarities to other NHL venues - a light tower and beacon is reminiscent of Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center; the center ice scoreboard is designed similar to the one at Air Canada Centre; a stack of "party suites" four high in two corners looks alot like the suites at Philips Arena; and their grand entrance pavilion with its sweeping views of downtown Columbus is reminiscent of our own HSBC Arena.
This facility almost has the feel of the Conseco Fieldhouse which we had just seen - at the top of the bowl there are huge glass walls allowing light into the building, and the entire building has a red brick and stone veneer giving the place a nostalgic feel to it. Once inside, you enter a huge pavilion with glass walls facing outside and escalators to take you to club or upper levels. A team store is right inside the pavilion. All the concourses are bathed in soft lighting and some corridors in blue mood lighting to accentuate the "blue" theme in Blue Jackets. The concessions are organized by themed geography, with such names as "sunset", "uptown", "west end" etc. The corridors are also given corporate nicknames, for example "CoreComm Avenue" on the upper deck. At the main pavilion one can find the main food venue with a huge food court, several bars, all grouped into an area called "Bud Light Terrace".
Premium Seats
This arena is laid out much like our own in Buffalo, with a club level wrapping around 75% of the 200 level, and premium restaurants up there laid out much like our 200 level Harbour Club. Interestingly, they also have 2 "super premium" areas - one side of the 200 level sidelines has mini-boxes, with huge captains chairs and their own TV monitors, and there are also high tables - 4 to a table that are sold by the table for viewing the action - these tables also come with TV monitors. In the first few rows around the penalty boxes is another exclusive premium area, with access to a private club called the "ticketmaster.com lounge" and an upscale buffet.
The Seating Bowl
This bowl is beautiful -and when you walk around the 100 level concourse you can actually see the action from the concourse itself. But the coolest thing is the latest in LED Surround Vision Technology. This dot matrix board is bolted on the facade of the upper deck and forms a continuous circle around the inside of the arena. Just like Paul Brown Stadium, this board can display advertisments with neat graphics, stats, and also great special effects in with an IMAX surround type effect. ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC!!!!!!
Concessions
Add delicacies such as lobster rolls, quesadillas, panini sandwiches and grilled tuna steak to the traditional fare. Besides the ticketmaster lounge, there is another premium lounge area called the PIzzuti lounge, located on the club level. A bistro style restaurant called Black and Blue is available for general ticket holders, and is accessible from the main concourse. This facility is also open on non game days and sports a great view of the practice rink., which brings us to the...
Practice Rink
The Blue Jackets have a practice rink built right into the arena - not next door..not adjacent - right in the arena!!! It is called the CoreComm Ice Haus, and you can see it at one endzone from the 100 concourse by looking through the glass. There is bench seating for about 1000 patrons, and there is also a restaurant overlooking the playing surface. The practices are open to the public and the building is also used by the public and youth teams, sometimes even when the Blue Jackets game is in progress.
The team has sold almost 13,000 season tickets, and that is incredible considering that the city has almost no hockey tradition (save an ECHL championship by the former Columbus Chill, coached by our own Brian McCutcheon!), and also there is a PSL requirement which doesn't go to the team but rather to defray the cost of construction. We think that the fan support is remarkable... and this city has gone nuts for their new NHL team... what a great addition to the NHL family!
Retired Numbers/Banners
No past teams - no tradition.. so they hang banners of some "founding" corporate sponsors. Definite deduction in our book. The titles will come, the championships will come, and someday this team will bid farewell to its icons and retire their numbers.. Until then, LEAVE THE RAFTERS EMPTY.
Hat Tricks, Assists, Penalties
Hat Trick - The digital LED 360 degree surround dot matrix board is very cool. The set up here in Columbus actually goes about 80% of the way around, nonetheless, they use it to the max and it really dresses up the seating bowl.
Hat Trick - to the management of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Too many people to list here, but special props to Joel Siegman, Fan Services Coordinator. We hooked up with Joel on both of our visits, and he was very gracious to us. On our return visit, Joel lined up VIP seats, gifts of personalized jerseys, media appearances, and participation in in-game entertainment. A big THANK YOU to the number one NHL organization in our hearts!
Penalty - to Andrew, who with Peter was invited to shoot t-shirts into the crowd with one of those big cannons. He sailed the last shirt right onto the ice, almost hitting 'Jackets goalie Marc Denis. OOPS! Fortunately the puck hadn't dropped yet. Andrew will report back to Columbus to serve the penalty in person.
Assist - A large "Fans #1" banner hangs at the top of the escalator in the main atrium. THIS is an appropriate place for this sort of banner, and we are glad the Blue Jackets resisted the temptation to hang this in the seating bowl.
Summary
Columbus did it right... a privately built arena with a dynamic cityscape built around it. Attractions both at the arena and throughout the adjoining neighborhood to keep people coming on event days and at other times. A wonderful building abounding in fan amenities, food selections, and other entertainment. The first in the NHL auxiliary practice rink built right in the arena, available for public use as well. It all works here - the team, the building, the Arena District. Clearly this is one of the premiere, if not THE best, setup in the NHL. Cities looking to build a sports venue and companion private development to create vibrant urban synergies need look no farther than Columbus to see how it should be done. Congratulations to you, Columbus... you have set the bar for your peers to emulate! We hope to come visit again and again.
BLUE JACKETS HOPE TO SELL ARENA TO FRANKLIN COUNTY
June 4, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - The Columbus Blue Jackets' sought to sell Nationwide Arena to the county
in hopes of ending deficits and avoiding a move to another city barely got out of the gate.
Opposition from the county and area legislators has essentially stopped the effort.
Team officials say they have lost $80 million over the past seven years in the 18,000-seat
building and they aren't making as much revenue from their arena as other NHL team despite good
tickets and sponsorship sales. For example, Nationwide owns the building and does not pay for naming
rights. If the building were sold to the county, that would allow the lease to be rewritten. Nationwide
Realty Investors has suspended rent payments for the team for the 2008-09 season.
The hope was that Franklin County commissioners would agree to impose tax increases on
beer, wine, liquor and cigarettes to fund the purchase of the arena. The new plan, modeled after a
tax plan used to build a baseball stadium and arena in Cleveland, comes 12 years after Franklin
County voters rejected a temporary tax increase to pay for a new Downtown arena.
Nationwide Arena has a 99 percent property-tax abatement, but it provides at least $1 million a
year to the school district from a surcharge on ticket sales and a portion of arena employees' city
income tax.
If Franklin County became the arena's owner, it would be responsible for continuing to pay the
Columbus district.
Under the plan, Nationwide would use whatever profits it gains from selling the arena to
purchase a minority ownership of the team.
State help would be needed and the financing plan has been attacked by the liquor industry
because of the price increases.
The legislative plan would allow Franklin County commissioners to raise taxes by 28 cents on a
12-pack of beer, 6.4 cents on a bottle on wine, 60 cents on a fifth for spirits and 4.5 cents per pack
of cigarettes. Either the county or the Convention Facility Authority could use the proceeds to
purchase the arena, which would still be named Nationwide Arena, but the company would pay for
naming rights.
Nationwide officials say they haven't formally signed off on the plan, but were supportive of the
discussion.
ARENA DISTRICT WORKS IN COLUMBUS
August 6, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - A decade ago, a 75-acre area along the Scioto River less than a mile west
of downtown was an industrial no man's land, consisting of barren rail yards, old warehouses
and a shuttered 19th-century penitentiary. But that was before Nationwide Realty Investors, an
affiliate of Nationwide Mutual Insurance, turned the area into the Arena District.
The district, a $750 million mixed-use neighborhood of housing, offices, retailing and
entertainment, has attracted some of the city's most prominent architecture, law, real estate
development and advertising firms and is regarded as one of the Midwest's most successful
urban redevelopment projects.
Late in October, the Columbus City Council approved the development plan for the Arena
District's final phase: a $250 million project to add 450 units of housing, 300,000 square feet of office space in two buildings, an 80,000-square-foot grocery store, an eight-level garage with
1,600 spaces and as much as 40,000 square feet of retail space.
As for the financial crisis that has gripped the credit markets, Brian J. Ellis, the president
and chief operating officer of Nationwide Realty Investors, noted that in the 11-year history of
the Arena District's development, the company had contended with what he called "down cycles." Though the current crisis is more severe than the others, Ellis said, the company's
strategy is to "build with the market."
"What's happening now may affect the speed at which we complete this final phase," he
said. "But we continue to see strong demand for the office space and housing. We continue to
command the highest rental rates in the city."
Indeed, at annual leasing prices of roughly $25 a square foot Ð compared with about $20
downtown Ð 97 percent of the 1.4 million square feet of office space is occupied in the Arena
District's three- and four-story brick buildings.
Their design pays homage to the old warehouses and factories that once stood here. They
now house some 5,000 workers, including more than 100 employees of SBC Advertising, a top
Midwest firm, which leased 30,000 square feet in the district's newest office building.
About 1,000 people live in the 525 housing units in the Arena District, and much of it is
leased or sold. This includes North Bank Park, a 20-story condominium building along the river
with striking views of downtown, which Nationwide completed in December 2007. The
two-bedroom two-bath units sell for $350,000 to $1 million, and nearly 50 percent of 88 units
have been sold.
Thousands of people from outside the area regularly attend games of the Columbus Blue
Jackets of the National Hockey League in the 18,500-seat Nationwide Arena, which was the
catalyst for this redevelopment, and they spend time before and after the hockey games and
other events in 14 restaurants and bars in the district.
The area also includes McFerson Commons, a pocket park that connects to the Scioto Mile,
a $39 million promenade and riverfront park that the city started to build this year.
Nationwide is also developing Huntington Park, the new 10,000-seat baseball field for the
Columbus Clippers, a Triple-A franchise of the Cleveland Indians. The $50 million ballpark is
owned by Franklin County and is to open next spring.
Nationwide Realty helped Columbus envision a new approach to land use. The Arena
District, a partnership between the city and the company, which has developed almost
everything in the decade-old district, was to be an answer to Columbus's downtown woes. It
seems to be succeeding.
The mixed-use district embodies three influential theories of urban redevelopment of the last
decade: energetic and walkable street and neighborhood designs, as advocated by prominent
architects who call themselves "new urbanists"; urban settings that let creative young
professionals weave work and play, as advanced in the writing of Richard Florida; and sports
venues, which some experts see as essential to civic economic health.
The Arena District's popularity has prompted Mayor Michael B. Coleman to accelerate a
plan for the city's depopulated downtown that he introduced in 2002. Four years after it closed
as a historic department store, the 1-million-square-foot Lazarus building reopened in 2007 as
an office building.
Nearly 2,000 people work there, and it has spurred housing development. About 4,700
people have moved downtown into almost 4,000 units of housing built since 2000, and 1,000
more units have been approved for construction.
Coleman said his target was to attract 10,000 people to live downtown, and in March he
committed to spend $20 million to develop 86 miles of bike paths and lanes, with both to be
completed by 2012.
REPORT: BLUE JACKETS COULD LEAVE WITHOUT MORE FUNDS
November 5, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - A report issued by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce says the Columbus
Blue Jackets could leave Nationwide Arena and the city unless a way is found to help the team
generate more revenue. The report says the team is losing about $12 million a year.
The team is an important part of the cityÕs arena district, a section of the city that hosts not only
the arena, but a variety of other entertainment offerings. The district generated $30 million in tax
revenues last year.
The Chamber said the goal is a financial package that would relieve the Blue Jackets of significant
costs, potentially including $5 million a year in arena rent and $4 million in operational losses.
The Chamber does not see the issue going before a public vote, but getting its support from
local and state officials. Two of the three county commissioners say they wonÕt support any plan
that doesnÕt allow an election.
Voters had repeatedly rejected using tax dollars to build an arena when a local business
partnership stepped up to build Nationwide Arena.
Nationwide owns 90 percent of the arena, and The Dispatch Printing Company, owner of The
Dispatch, 10 percent. JMAC/Worthington Industries owns about 80 percent of the team, with the
remainder owned by a Dispatch Printing Company subsidiary, real-estate developer Ron Pizzuti,
Crane Plastics and former Columbus Chill owner Horn Chen.
The ChamberÕs plan calls for the state, which is projected to get nearly $30 million a year in
taxes by 2018, to share some of that wealth by providing capital-improvement dollars to operate the
arena. There are also refinancing options, including issuing tax-exempt bonds or asking for federal
stimulus dollars. Other options include increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, car
leasing or hotel stays.
The Blue Jackets pay rent to the owners of the arena. Under the lease, the Jackets can rent the
arena for concerts and events, but that business is losing money, the report said. If the Blue Jackets
had free rent and arena-naming rights, the hockey operations would basically be breaking even,
but the other business of booking concerts and events would still lose about $4 million a year.
Nationwide Arena competes for concerts and other events with venues run by Ohio State
University, Franklin County and the Convention Facilities Authority.
Even if Nationwide Arena attracted every concert, the central Ohio market is not big enough to
cover expenses, according to the report.
An attempt to get Franklin County to buy the arena stalled last summer. The team had tried to
persuade Ohio lawmakers to amend the state budget bill to allow a countywide "sin tax" on alcohol
and cigarettes.
The proposed deal called for Franklin County to pay $65 million for the facility, the report said.
In 2003, Nationwide argued before the Franklin County Board of Revision in a property-tax case
that the arena was worth no more than $46.5 million.
TAX MONEY RULED OUT TO HELP BLUE JACKETS
November 12, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - Political leaders say they want to help the Columbus Blue Jackets survive
their economic woes, but they wonÕt use tax money to do it.
Arena owner Nationwide Insurance said it already has allowed the team to defer rent payments
for the past two seasons.
"Nationwide is willing to be part of the solution, but we cannot do it alone," said Brian Ellis,
president of Nationwide Realty Investors, the insurance company's real-estate arm. "This is a
complicated problem that will take time, and it will require some form of public-private partnership
to solve."
A Chamber of Commerce study by Stephen A. Buser, a professor emeritus of finance at Ohio
State University, pegged team losses at $12 million a year.
But, he said, the entertainment district around the arena supports about 5,500 jobs and
generated $29.6 million in 2008 taxes.
City Council President Michael C. Mentel said public involvement doesn't necessarily mean
public money. The report also suggested issuing bonds, offering tax incentives or creating special
taxing districts.
Councilman Andrew J. Ginther said a public-private partnership "is not just public: The private
sector is going to have to sacrifice and make some choices. The public is going to have to get
something out of this, either through the team or the arena."
Chamber President and CEO Ty Marsh said officials want a solution by year's end to relieve the
Blue Jackets of significant costs, including $5 million a year in arena rent and $4 million in
operational losses.
TALKS WITH BLUE JACKETS STALLED
January 14, 2010
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - Talks over how to help the Columbus Blue Jackets to become a viable
operation in Nationwide Arena have stalled as the parties work to figure out what issues need to be resolved.
The current round of talks will probably will end without an attempt to negotiate with all parties - team owners; Nationwide, the majority owner of Nationwide Arena; and elected officials - at the table, said Bill Jennison, executive director of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority. "There is no sense in bringing everybody into a large room," Jennison said. "It has to be productive."
In November, the Columbus Chamber released a study that said the Blue Jackets might leave the city unless a financial fix is found to overcome an estimated $12 million-a-year shortfall. The report said the team was suffering because of an unfavorable lease, and Chamber President Ty D. Marsh said the issue needed to be resolved by the end of December.
"That obviously didn't happen," Jennison said. "This is a really complicated real-estate transaction, in addition to everything else."
An attempt to get Franklin County to buy the arena stalled in the summer. The team had tried to persuade Ohio legislators to amend the state budget bill to allow a countywide "sin tax" on alcohol and cigarettes.
Franklin County Administrator Don Brown said he has received a couple of progress reports, but Brown wouldn't comment on what they said.
The November study, prepared for the chamber by retired Ohio State University finance professor Stephen A. Buser, outlined alternatives for subsidizing the team, including asking the state for capital-improvement money, issuing tax-exempt bonds or asking for federal stimulus money. Other options included increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, car leasing or hotel stays.
Voters had repeatedly rejected using tax revenue to build an arena when a local business partnership stepped up to build Nationwide Arena, which opened in 2000.
COLUMBUS MAY TAKE OVER NATIONWIDE ARENA
March 11, 2010
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said in a radio talk show interview
that the city might take over ownership of Nationwide Arena. Community groups have been working on ways they might help the finances of the NHL Blue Jackets, the venueÕs primary tenant.
The Blue Jackets' $5 million annual rent for Nationwide Arena and $4 million annual loss to run it are the biggest factors in the team's finances, according to a report made in November for the Columbus Chamber.
The report said losing the NHL franchise would devastate the Arena District.
"Ultimately, it's going to require the Convention Facilities Authority to step into the arena side of the management," Coleman said.
About an arena-Schottenstein Center partnership, he said: "They're great facilities. I love them both. If there's some way they can work together ... it will help the situation substantially."
OSU MAY MANAGE NATIONWIDE ARENA
May 6, 2010
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - A solution to the financial challenges facing the Columbus Blue Jackets
could include turning over management of Nationwide Arena to Ohio State University. The school already owns and operates the Schottenstein Center which it manages with its own staff.
Under an agreement that OSU and Blue Jackets officials said could be finalized within two weeks, the university would manage both arenas and handle bookings for concerts and other events. That would save at least $1 million annually for each side because of lower administrative costs and better leverage in booking.
Currently, the Blue Jackets rent Nationwide Arena from the Nationwide insurance company and other owners for $5 million a year. The team pays a management company to run the venue and has said it loses $4 million a year on its operation. The team's total deficit runs about $12 million annually.
"This could be an important step, but it represents only about a 10 percent fix to our problem," Blue Jackets President Mike Priest said. "If we have a $12 million problem and we fix it by $1 million, that's at least a step in the right direction."
Reports said the rest of the pieces of a deal to stabilize the Blue Jackets are still months from final form. But ideas are emerging:
* Nationwide Arena could become the property of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, a public agency. The new owner would not charge the Blue Jackets rent.
* Nationwide could cut its asking price for the arena and could pay for naming rights.
* Public money could come from several potential sources, including the taxes to be paid by Ohio's newly approved casinos or through another attempt to impose a rental-car tax that Columbus voters rejected in 2002.
The last option could face an electoral hurdle because the city charter says ordinances rejected by voters can't be reimposed without their approval. City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. said that appears to require another vote, even if the tax would be at a different rate.
Brian Ellis, president of Nationwide Realty Investors, said he supports the emerging relationship between OSU and the Blue Jackets.
The management deal is on a fast track because the team's contract with SMG, a Pennsylvania-based company that runs Nationwide Arena, expires on June 30.
Xen Riggs, an OSU associate vice president in administration and planning, said the contract would be for a year but likely wouldn't last that long. Ohio State's management of Nationwide Arena would essentially represent a partnership between the school and the Blue Jackets, Riggs said.
"We wouldn't characterize this as an OSU takeover," he said. "It simply made sense for us to get involved since we manage a similar 20,000-seat arena."
OSU TO MANAGE NATIONWIDE ARENA
May 13, 2010
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Columbus, Ohio - Ohio State University officials have agreed to terms for managing
Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Bluejackets, but say they wonÕt release details until university lawyers complete their review. The agreement would run through June 30, 2011. The school already manages its own arena, the Schottenstein Center.
The move was made in an effort to help the Bluejackets financially. Other elements of a solution could be months away. Currently, the Blue Jackets rent Nationwide Arena from the Nationwide insurance company and other owners for $5 million a year. The team pays SMG, a Pennsylvania-based management company, to run the venue.
The co-management deal was on a fast track because the team's contract with SMG, which has run the arena since the facility opened in 2000, expires June 30.
"I'm hopeful it serves as a catalyst for further progress," said Blue Jackets President Mike Priest. "Yes, it's a step in the right direction."
Under the agreement, the university, which already runs the Schottenstein Center, will handle bookings for concerts and other events at both arenas.
Ohio State won't start co-managing Nationwide Arena until July 1, but it started scheduling and booking acts this week. The university won't book sporting events for Nationwide.
Officials said the deal would save the Blue Jackets about $1 million annually because of lower administrative costs, efficiency savings and better leverage in booking because the two facilities won't be bidding against each other.
By working together as co-promoters, the two facilities can spend more time marketing so they can attract a larger audience and make more money in sponsorships and suite revenue, OSU officials said.
Officials said, tour agents were pitting the two area venues against each other, sometimes wringing out as much as $100,000 to $200,000 from the winning venue to secure a show. Those costs, in turn, were heaped on fans.
The co-management deal was forged amid discussions of how to help the Blue Jackets, which have been losing about $12 million annually, according to team officials.
