Dishin’ On Daytime

The atmosphere is electric in the Arena District, an area of our city that has worked hard to be the next “in” spot of Columbus. Now that Huntington Park has opened, Columbus residents have the opportunity to have fun in the district all summer long. The Blue Jackets have called Nationwide Arena home for years and there’s no doubt that has spurred businesses in the area. Now that the Columbus Clipper new home has opened on this piece of real estate, it’s fun all year round. But more than fun, it’s one of the reasons Columbus is faring better than other cities around the country. The Arena District is vibrant. Despite the economy, this is a jewel for our city. And when you look around at the number of people roaming the district, it’s hard to believe we are deep in a recession. This just shows that people are ready for fun, and the Arena district is affordable for families.

Just last night I took my daughters to the Clipper game. Tickets were $6 each, and they both commented that it was cheaper than going to the movies. They also had a great time and talked about coming back with their friends for a fun and inexpensive evening of entertainment.

That’s why I think it’s so important to figure out how we can keep our Blue Jackets in Columbus at Nationwide Arena. I understand none of the solutions I’m hearing about in the news media would be easy solutions. But losing this arena would be devastating to our city, and could be one of those events that could lead to the Arena District falling like a house of cards. I hope this doesn’t happen. I hope our political leaders and business and community leaders work together for the future of our city…starting with keeping our Arena District alive.