Puck Tour: Nationwide Arena
FINAL SCORE: Jackets 1 - Senators 0
February 25, 2019
I decided to head to Columbus very last minute - and I was honestly not disappointed (clearly I thought I would be - it’s Ohio)… I barely slept because I had to work, hopped on a flight at the crack of dawn, and landed at about 10 am. I checked into the Courtyard Marriott downtown, which costed me about $90 for the night. I never really stay in the rooms too long, but the staff was friendly and if you wanted a quick bite there was EVERYWHERE to walk to. I usually try to grab a cheap hostel in the area, but they only had one in the area and it seemed a bit shady.
Before the game, I got ready and asked the hotel concierge where the closest food/bar was. It was called the “Elevator Brewing Co. Taproom.” It was a great spot, however, a bit fancy on the food selections. I wasn’t looking for a crab cake lunch, but ya girl did it anyway ‘cause I was starving, and feelin’ it.
After visiting there, I decided to Uber to the game. It costed me seven dollars. Funny thing is, the dude pulled around two corners and said I arrived. THIS LAZY ASS COULD HAVE WALKED! I was so mad, but at the same time I should have taken the time to see how close the arena was. RIGHT in downtown! And they had such good selections of bars and food around, I was mad I didn’t explore it earlier.
When I got to the game, I grabbed a drink and went to my seat. These seats were FRONT row behind the HOME bench, for SIXTY-FIVE dollars! You better believe I annoyed the shit out of Tortorella (former Rangers coach). I grew up going to Devils/Rangers games, and I will never forget this one time the Rangers came in for a time out, I was sitting behind the Rags bench and I put devil horns above his head and the team started laughing. I thought why not fuck with him again? And that’s where this picture comes in:
I was holding this sign up the entire third period. During the second intermission, I ran up to a bar and asked for a Miller Lite as leverage for a blank piece of paper and a sharpie. I asked the kid behind me, already with a beer in his hand, if he wanted my Miller because I just wanted to write a sign and head back to my seat. He of course snagged it, said thank you and I ran back down.
All of the coaches on the bench were CRACKING up. They take one look at Tort’s, the type of look that was like “dude, are you gon’ have to pay child support for this chick or what?” He looked at it, curiously, turned his head and just shook it. Focused back on the game. I was surprised he didn’t bash me during the press conference - that sign was next to his head for 20 minutes. I’m laughing typing this.
Recommended things to do in Columbus:
I was surprised at the arena and how many things they had to do around it. I went to a Monday game, so of course it wasn’t as poppin’ as it would be on a weekend, but I followed the crowd to a bar called “R Bar-” one of the few that wasn’t closing up due to it being a weekday. I drank, played a couple games of pool with some locals, and we all gathered and headed to another place called Brothers. It was late in the night, and the bar was empty, but they had a cute little bonfire going outside.
Everything was a very short walk to my hotel which was very convenient. I asked what kind of things there were to do outside in terms of parks/sightseeing/etc… However, it was FREEZING. So, the recommendations were slim. If you’re looking for a good time at a hockey game, I recommend Columbus on a weekend, in the summer, or both.
MVP of the game:
Korpisalo made 25 saves during the game, shutting out Ottawa. IT WAS HIS FIRST SHUTOUT IN 70 GAMES. Shit, you go girl. It was a slow game, defensive as hell… But 21 seconds into the third, Bjorkstrand scored to make it, and end it, at 1-0 Jackets.
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