NHL · 2026–27

Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets

Date
Thu, Nov 12
Puck drop
7:00 PM local

Nationwide Arena, Columbus

Times can change: check the Blue Jackets schedule before booking.

Hotels for this game

All 7 hotels

Arena District and the convention center

Hilton Columbus Downtown

Ohio’s largest hotel, with 1,000 rooms in two towers, connected to the Greater Columbus Convention Center and near Nationwide Arena and North Market. FYR, Spark and the Stories on High rooftop lounge are on site.

  • Walk route
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Arena travel & hotel details

Parking is paid, by the day, and a 1% Short North community fee is added to room and restaurant charges. It’s connected to the convention center, so check for a convention on your dates.

Getting to the game
Walk west along Nationwide Boulevard to the arena.
Getting back
Walk back with the crowd, or stop at R Bar or Moran’s on Front Street on the way.
Address
402 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Hotel website

Short North Arts District

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph

A 135-room art-themed boutique hotel in the Short North, hung with works from the developer’s family collection, with Liliana Spa, Soul at The Joseph and The Guild House.

  • Walk route
  • Rideshare
  • Rail / transit
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Arena travel & hotel details

The hotel’s own site couldn’t be checked, so room rates, parking prices and any fees are unconfirmed. Call the hotel before you book.

Getting to the game
Walk south on High Street toward the convention center and turn west to the arena, ride COTA Line 1, 2 or 5 to High Street and Ohio Center Way, or take a rideshare to West Street.
Getting back
Walk back north on High Street, or meet a rideshare on West Street.
Address
620 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Hotel website

CMH airport

Days Inn by Wyndham Columbus Airport

An airport hotel less than a mile from CMH, by its own count, with a free airport shuttle and a free light breakfast.

  • Drive
  • Rideshare
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Arena travel & hotel details

The shuttle serves the airport, not the arena. Parking isn’t described, and the page still uses the airport’s old name, so confirm details with the hotel.

Getting to the game
Drive downtown and park, or take a rideshare to the drop-off on West Street.
Getting back
Walk back to your garage, or meet a rideshare on West Street.
Address
750 Stelzer Road, Columbus, OH 43219
Hotel website

To the game and back

From the convention center on footArena District and the convention centerwalk
Getting there
Walk west along Nationwide Boulevard to the arena. Sonesta describes itself as two blocks away, and Drury lists the arena half a mile away. Doors open one hour before puck drop.
Getting back
Walk back along Nationwide Boulevard with the crowd.

Leave bags behind: only clutches up to 8 × 5 × 1 inches, medical bags and diaper bags are allowed. Expect metal detectors at the doors.

Route information
From the Short North on footShort North Arts Districtwalk
Getting there
Walk south on High Street past the convention center, then turn west toward the arena.
Getting back
Walk back north on High Street. Jeni’s stays open until midnight if you want dessert on the way.

No walking time or distance from these hotels to the arena could be confirmed. For a weeknight game, COTA Line 1, 2 or 5 down High Street or a rideshare to West Street saves the walk.

Route information
From the Short North by rideshareShort North Arts Districtrideshare
Getting there
Set your drop-off on West Street. The arena says all drop-offs and pickups happen there.
Getting back
Walk to West Street and meet your driver there.

The arena publishes no separate Uber or Lyft zone. Vehicles on West Street must be attended, and unattended ones may be towed. Prices after the game are set by the app.

Route information
From the Short North on a COTA busShort North Arts Districttransit
Getting there
Take COTA Line 1, 2 or 5 south on High Street to the N. High St. and Ohio Center Way stop, then walk one block west to the arena. The Short North Alliance lists the same lines at stops by these hotels. A ride is $2, with free transfers for two hours.
Getting back
Walk one block east to High Street and take Line 1, 2 or 5 north from the Ohio Center Way stop.

No schedule or last-bus time is published on the arena’s page, so check times in the Transit app, which the arena recommends. The free CBUS downtown circulator isn’t running.

Route information
Drive in and park near the arenaCMH airportdrive
Getting there
Drive downtown and park in one of the surface lots or garages the arena counts within a 10-minute walk: more than 15,000 spaces. Parking can be bought in advance or on the day.
Getting back
Walk back to your garage and drive out.

Prices vary by lot and aren’t listed on the arena’s page. Accessible parking is at the McConnell garage’s north entrance and the Front Street garage’s northeast entrance, and may run short at busy events.

Route information
By rideshare from the airport areaCMH airportrideshare
Getting there
Take an Uber or Lyft to the drop-off on West Street. At CMH, rideshare pickups are across the Arrivals drive from level 1 of the terminal.
Getting back
Meet your ride on West Street, where the arena says all pickups happen.

The hotel shuttle serves the airport only, not the arena. Prices after the game are set by the app.

Route information

Where visiting fans stay

Arena District and the convention centerWalking to the game with no transit or parking to plan

Stay by the Greater Columbus Convention Center, a few blocks from the arena, with North Market and the Arena District’s bars close by.

To the arena
Walk west along Nationwide Boulevard to the arena.
After the game
Walk back with the crowd, or stop at R Bar or Moran’s on Front Street on the way.
The tradeoff
All three charge for parking. They share the blocks around the convention center, so check for a convention on your dates before you book.

Hotels in this area

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Short North Arts DistrictA boutique hotel and a dinner-and-gallery night before the game

Stay among the galleries, boutiques and restaurants on North High Street, then walk south or take a rideshare to the arena.

To the arena
Walk south on High Street toward the convention center and turn west to the arena, ride COTA Line 1, 2 or 5 to High Street and Ohio Center Way, or take a rideshare to West Street.
After the game
Walk back north on High Street, or meet a rideshare on West Street.
The tradeoff
Parking is valet or a nearby garage, and no parking price could be confirmed. The arena is farther away than from the convention hotels, and no walking time from these hotels could be confirmed.

Hotels in this area

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CMH airportEarly flights and arriving with a car

Stay near John Glenn Columbus International Airport with a free airport shuttle and breakfast, then drive or ride downtown for the game.

To the arena
Drive downtown and park, or take a rideshare to the drop-off on West Street.
After the game
Walk back to your garage, or meet a rideshare on West Street.
The tradeoff
The hotel shuttle serves the airport only, so the trip downtown is a drive, a rideshare or a COTA trip you plan yourself.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.

Before puck drop

All food picks
Public market food hall with independent vendors

North Market Downtown

A 150-year-old public market near the arena, where a group can split up across the vendors and eat together.

Hours & notes

Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun–Mon 10 a.m.–5 p.m. It closes at or before puck drop for most night games, so eat early.

American grill: burgers, steaks, bison and seafood

Ted’s Montana Grill (Arena District)

A sit-down dinner on West Nationwide Boulevard by the arena, and one of the Arena District’s to-go drinks sellers.

Hours & notes

Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m., per the Arena District’s listing. It closes before a night game ends, so plan it for before puck drop.

Bar and grill: burgers and comfort food

Moran’s Bar & Grille

A bar and grill on Front Street near the arena, and one of the Arena District’s to-go drinks sellers.

Hours & notes

Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m., per the Arena District’s listing. It closes at 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, so plan it for before a weeknight game.

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