Located near the heart of downtown Columbus, the Arena District is within walking distance of several downtown attractions, including the Columbus Convention Center, the Short North and the North Market. For those who need a break, the Arena District also boasts a three-acre park, called McFerson Commons, which features the historic Union Station Arch along with a new Downtown riverfront park.
Your Guide's Visit
Your guide visited the Arena District recently to dine and attend a concert at Nationwide Arena, and found a lot to be happy about.
Nationwide Blvd. has been extended past Neil Ave. through the Arena District. In addition to Nationwide Arena, there are some other "cool buildings" along it, largely reproductions of the old warehouses that used to be there. Large TV screens across from Nationwide Arena reminded me of New York City in our own small style. My only complaint is: why aren't the traffic lights working? They weren't working when I drove through in September and were still not working in February.
I was surprised that the surface parking lot directly across from Nationwide Arena wanted $10 to park for the evening; the $5 lot across Nationwide Blvd. seemed a "bargain" so I went with that. Of course, an off duty Columbus police officer had to escort us across Nationwide Blvd. because the traffic lights don't work!
Since my wife and I had some time before the concert we ventured over to Buca de Beppo. This is one of those restaurants I've been hearing about and had to try.
This was certainly a unique dining experience. The lobby was INCREDIBLY small and crowded. I kept wondering how it got built so small for such a large restaurant. I had to say "Out, please" like an elevator to get the crowd to part when our name was called for a table.
Unfortunately, this compressed crowd was very loud and seemed to carry this volume to their tables. Since the restaurant is partitioned into many rooms and areas, the only reason it was loud was because those seated around me were practically yelling.
But the food was good. Very good, and incredibly LARGE. I think an entire family could eat off just one entree. As their Web page says, "this is real immigrant Italian food. You'll be too busy eating to do anything but grunt in agreement." We had tons of food to take home.
Then it was time for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to start. Nationwide Arena was bigger than I had expected. I guess I had heard complaints when it was built that it was too small. But it appeared you could see from any seat in the house, and the accoustics were great.
If you're planning to attend an Arena District event and stay nearby, here are hotels and motels located in the downtown Columbus area:
- Best Western Clarmont Inn
- Columbus Renaissance Hotel
- Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
- Crowne Plaza Hotel
- Doubletree Suites Hotel
- Days Inn Downtown West
- Drury Inn Convention Center
- Economy Inn Downtown
- 50 Lincoln Inn
- Hampton Inn Downtown
- Holiday Inn City Center
- Hyatt on Capitol Square
- The Lofts
- Red Roof Inn Downtown
- Village Inn Motel
- Westin Great Southern Hotel
The Arena District still has room to grow, so visit Arena-district.com and watch for more coming soon to Columbus' own "cool zone."
