Upcoming Columbus Blue Jackets dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Columbus and its expansion-era franchise
The Columbus Blue Jackets play home games at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, and the NHL regular season there runs from October into April. The league awarded the franchise in 1997, and it began play as an expansion team in the 2000–01 season. Founding owner John H. McConnell privately guaranteed the arena financing that helped Columbus win the team.
The name honors Ohio's patriotism and its Civil War history, and the primary logo borrows from the state flag's swallowtail (burgee) shape. The club spent its first 13 seasons in the Central Division of the Western Conference and moved to the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference for the 2013–14 season.
Playoff success has come slowly. Columbus reached the postseason for the first time in 2009, won its first playoff game in 2014 against Pittsburgh, and won its first series in 2019, a four-game sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning (the Presidents' Trophy goes to the team with the best regular-season record). The Pittsburgh Penguins, a short drive east, are the most natural division rival, and the Detroit Red Wings carry a long regional rivalry from the Central Division years.
Choosing seats at Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena opened on September 9, 2000, and seats 18,500 for hockey, or about 19,500 with standing room. It sits at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard in the Arena District, a mixed-use neighborhood of restaurants, bars and offices built around the building. The OhioHealth Ice Haus, a practice rink attached to the arena, was the first of its kind at an NHL building.
The seating bowl has a lower level in the 100s, a club level with premium amenities, and an upper level in the 200s. Premium options include the club level, the all-inclusive Lexus Lounge for Blue Jackets games, and terrace tables with bar-top seating below the suites.
- Best overall view: a sideline seat between the blue lines (the lines that mark each defensive zone), in the middle or upper rows of the lower level. You see both nets, the benches and plays as they form.
- For scoring chances: the end where the Blue Jackets shoot twice (the net they attack in the first and third periods). The event seating map marks the benches and that end; check before you buy.
- On a budget: the front rows of the upper level along the sideline usually see more of the ice than the back rows of the lower-level ends.
- Close to the glass: row 1 is exciting, but the boards hide play along the near wall. A seat ten or more rows up gives a cleaner read of the game.
Fans who want to see the cannon up close before the game can find it outside section 101, according to one seating guide.
The schedule and the dates that sell first
NHL preseason games begin in late September. The 82-game regular season, 41 of them at home, runs from October to mid-April, and the playoffs run from late April into June.
- Regional rivals: Pittsburgh and Detroit bring large groups of road fans to Columbus, which lifts demand and noise.
- Weekends and holidays: Friday and Saturday games and the late-December holiday dates sell first.
- Star visitors and Original Six clubs: teams such as Toronto, Montreal, Boston and Chicago draw neutral fans.
- Playoff races: late-season games with standings at stake carry more demand than the same matchup in November.
Midweek games against Western Conference opponents in November, January and February tend to offer the widest selection and the most room to choose a section.
Parking, COTA and arena rules
Driving is common, and the Arena District is built for it. The arena points visitors to the McConnell and Front Street garages and says more than 15,000 spaces sit within a ten-minute walk. Parking can be bought in advance or on the day of the game; buying ahead saves time when the area fills up before puck drop.
COTA buses are the arena's suggested way to skip parking. Lines 1, 2 and 5 stop on North High Street, lines 3 and 8 stop near Neil Avenue and Vine Street, and lines 6 and 9 stop at West Nationwide Boulevard and North Front Street, each a short walk from the doors.
As of the 2025–26 season, according to the arena's A–Z guide:
- Bags: bags are generally prohibited, with exceptions for medical bags, diaper bags and clutches no larger than about 8 by 5 by 1 inches, all screened at dedicated lines. Some NHL-wide guidance cites a smaller clutch size, so check before you go.
- Payment: the arena is cashless, with reverse ATMs that convert cash to a card at the box office and on the main and upper concourses.
- Re-entry: fans who leave to smoke are not readmitted.
See the Nationwide Arena A–Z guide for current rules.
The cannon and the Columbus crowd
The defining sound of a Blue Jackets game is the cannon, a gun modeled on an 1857 Napoleon field piece that fires at the start of games, after Columbus goals and after wins. First-time visitors seated near it should expect the noise.
The franchise's biggest crowd came outdoors. On March 1, 2025, the Blue Jackets beat the Detroit Red Wings 5–3 at Ohio Stadium in the NHL Stadium Series before 94,751 fans. For road trips, Pittsburgh, Detroit and the other Metropolitan Division cities are within driving range, which is where traveling Columbus fans are most often seen. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Key moments in Blue Jackets history
- 2000: Nationwide Arena opens and the expansion Blue Jackets play their first season.
- 2009: the first playoff appearance, ending in a sweep by Detroit.
- 2013: the move to the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division.
- 2014: the first playoff game win, against Pittsburgh.
- 2019: the first playoff series win, a sweep of Tampa Bay.
- 2022: the team retires number 61 for Rick Nash on March 5.
- 2024: forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew are killed in a cycling accident on August 29, a loss felt across the league.
- 2025: the Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium.
The Blue Jackets' official site lists the current schedule and roster.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Columbus Blue Jackets play?
The Blue Jackets play at Nationwide Arena, 200 West Nationwide Boulevard in the Arena District of downtown Columbus. The arena opened in 2000 and seats 18,500 for hockey.
Why do the Blue Jackets fire a cannon?
A cannon modeled on an 1857 Napoleon field gun fires at the start of home games, after Columbus goals and after wins. It ties to the team's Civil War-themed name and identity.
Where should I park for a Blue Jackets game?
The McConnell and Front Street garages serve the arena, and more than 15,000 spaces sit within a ten-minute walk. Parking can be bought in advance or on game day.
What bags are allowed at Nationwide Arena?
As of the 2025–26 season, bags are generally prohibited except medical bags, diaper bags and small clutches, which are screened at entry. Check the arena's current policy before you go.
When did the Blue Jackets join the NHL?
Columbus was awarded the franchise in 1997 and began play in the 2000–01 season.