#1: Hockey
Hockey is the main draw at Nationwide Arena, and it has hosted the Blue Jackets since they entered the NHL. Columbus is a sports town that only has one major professional sports team, and Nationwide was determined to get the team in the city and keep them there. The team plays before nearly 20,000 fans at every game, and the team has entered the NHL playoffs in this stadium. The NHL also hosted its 2015 All Star Game in Columbus after previously cancelling in 2013 due to a player lockout.
#2: Other Sporting Events
Nationwide Arena has hosted a number of sporting events that are not tied directly to major professional sports. The PBR Tour comes to Columbus every year for an event, and the stadium has hosted multiple teams from smaller pro sports leagues. MMA and wrestling events have been hosted in the stadium, and the state of Ohio uses the site for state championship games in hockey.
#3: Attracting An NBA Team
The mayor of Columbus has attempted to use the stadium as a bargaining chip to bring an expansion or moving team to Columbus. Columbus is not at the top of the list of cities where the NBA would place a team, but the city has every confidence that they can work out a deal similar to the one the Thunder have in Oklahoma City.
#4: College Basketball
Nationwide Arena often hosts rounds of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The first and second rounds of the tournament are held in sites all over America, and Nationwide Arena has been hosting these two rounds every other year since it opened. There is a strong basketball tradition in Ohio, and Nationwide Arena participates fully in that tradition when called upon. Nationwide Arena is a purpose built arena meant to host a professional hockey team in Ohio. The Blue Jackets have called this place home since their inception, and they are currently in the middle of a contract that will keep them in Columbus through 2039. Nationwide Arena will continue to be a draw for sports fan around the midwest as it hosts national and international events.