Nationwide Arena facts for kids
The Nationwide Arena is a big building in Columbus, Ohio, where exciting sports events happen! It opened in the year 2000. Today, it's the home for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a professional ice hockey team, and the Columbus Destroyers, an Arena Football League (AFL) team. This arena was built where an old prison called the Ohio Penitentiary used to be. That old prison was taken down in 1998 to make way for the arena.
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What is Nationwide Arena?
Nationwide Arena is a modern sports and entertainment center. It's designed to host many different kinds of events. You can watch fast-paced hockey games, thrilling arena football matches, and even concerts or other shows here. The arena is a very important part of the downtown area in Columbus.
Who Plays There?
The main team that calls Nationwide Arena home is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They are part of the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top professional ice hockey league in North America. Fans love to come and cheer on the Blue Jackets as they play against teams from all over the United States and Canada.
Another team that plays at the arena is the Columbus Destroyers. They are an Arena Football League (AFL) team. Arena football is a super exciting version of football played indoors on a smaller field.
A Look Back: The Arena's History
Before Nationwide Arena was built, the land had a long history. It was once the site of the Ohio Penitentiary. This was a large state prison that operated for many years. The old prison was closed down and then destroyed in 1998. After that, construction began on the modern arena we see today. It was a big project that helped to change the downtown area of Columbus.
Images for kids
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Arena bowl during a Blue Jackets game in 2007
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Blue Jackets locker room
See also
In Spanish: Nationwide Arena para niños
