Exterior photo of Nationwide Arena. Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Image Credit: Marada (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Nationwide Arena has served as the home arena to the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets since 2000. In 2011, Nationwide Realty Investors, the arena's owner, sold the arena to the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority for a little over $40 million. Since then, the convention authority has pushed for the arena to be designated as exempt from paying property taxes.

Photo of Columbus Blue Jackets players skating at Nationwide Arena.

Image Credit: Paula R. Lively (CC BY 2.0)

Every publicly owned venue in Ohio now carries tax exempt status in regards to property taxes. Nationwide Arena was the only stadium that was not tax exempt until the state legislature passed the bill in December, 2016. Had the state legislature not signed the bill, the authority would have been forced to pay nearly $4 million in property taxes each year. Most of that money gets passed to the Columbus city school system. 

Nationwide Arena ended the fiscal year with a budget surplus of nearly a half million dollars. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently first in the Metropolitan Division following a 16 game win streak. The win streak fell short of the 17 game win streak record held by the Pittsburgh Penguins. If you've never attended a Columbus Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena, you're missing out on a first class NHL experience when combined with all that there is to do in the neighboring Arena District. Please check out From This Seat's review of Nationwide Arena at the link below. 

  

Reference:

Dispatch.com

 

Related Articles