Activity Arena District, Downtown & the Short North
Nationwide Arena
An activity in Arena District, Downtown & the Short North, pricey ($$$) and worth about 3 hours. Best time to go: Evening.
Why go
Home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, who played a Dec 31 home game in 2025.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Downtown & the Short North, alongside 2 activities, 2 bars & cafés and 2 places to eat. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with North Market and Stories on High.
- Type
- Activity · Cities
- Neighborhood
- Arena District
- Price
- $$$
- Time needed
- 3 hr
- Best time
- Evening
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Downtown & the Short North, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1North Market
Public market at the edge of the Short North since 1876, with stalls for Ohio cheese, pierogi, Jeni's ice cream and more.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 2Stories on High
Rooftop bar on the 28-story Hilton Columbus Downtown tower, which threw a ticketed NYE party in 2025.
Drinks · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3Hotel LeVeque
Hotel inside the 1927 Art Deco LeVeque Tower, the city's landmark skyscraper, two blocks from the Scioto Mile.
Stay · 0.5 mi straight-line - 4Scioto Mile
Riverfront parks and promenade along the Scioto River with the best ground-level view of the downtown skyline.
Sight · 0.6 mi straight-line - 5COSI Noon Year's Eve
The science museum's family countdown to noon in its atrium on Dec 31, held 10 am to noon in 2025.
Activity · 0.7 mi straight-line - 6Brass Eye
Rooftop bar on The Junto hotel across the river from downtown, facing the skyline; its NYE party ran in 2024 and 2025.
Drinks · 0.7 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Nationwide Arena is a stop on our Columbus New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More things to do in Downtown & the Short North
Another curated activity in Downtown & the Short North. See the full Downtown & the Short North guide.
When to go: weather by month, based on German Village
Our climate figures for Downtown & the Short North come from nearby German Village. Average daily highs in German Village run from 35°F in January to 85°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Nationwide Arena itself, we suggest: Evening.
Modelled monthly averages for German Village from NASA POWER, not a forecast. German Village weather by month (covers Downtown & the Short North).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Nationwide Arena, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 39.96928, -83.00611
- Destination
- Downtown & the Short North, Ohio
Nationwide Arena: quick answers
How much time do you need at Nationwide Arena?
Plan on about 3 hours at Nationwide Arena. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Nationwide Arena?
Our pick: Evening. Insider tip: When there is an NYE game, the Arena District bars fill right after the final horn.
Which TripsCircle routes include Nationwide Arena?
Nationwide Arena appears on Columbus New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Nationwide Arena to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown & the Short North.
Plan Downtown & the Short North
- Downtown & the Short North travel guide 9 places
- German Village weather (covers Downtown & the Short North) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown & the Short North
- The Refectory Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.