COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Blue Jackets and the city of Columbus are planning to light up the winter nights during the NHL All-Star Weekend in January.
The team on Tuesday took the wraps off the plans for the
Columbus Blue Jackets All-Star Winter Park presented by Worthington Industries,parts of which will open to the public as early as Jan. 16 and remain open through Jan. 25. Located at McFerson Commons across the street from Nationwide Arena, the park will feature an outdoor ice rink and snow slide and will serve as the hub for outdoor entertainment before and during All-Star Game Weekend Jan. 24-25.
The Honda NHL All-Star Game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25.
The 34-foot snow slide is 85 feet wide and 175 feet long. It will be positioned along the westbound lanes of Nationwide Blvd. between Marconi Blvd. and West St.
The slide will be open Thursday, Jan. 22 through Jan. 25 and costs $2 per ride. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Rink is an NHL-sized outdoor ice rink that will feature public skating, youth hockey, private events and various other programming. It will be equipped with bleacher seating for 500 people, a skate rental tent and four heated locker rooms. It will be open Jan. 16 through Jan/s 25. Admission to skate will be $5 and includes skate rental.
Fire-pits will be installed near the entrance to the park where visitors can toast s’mores or just warm their hands. The Dispatch Media Group Hockey House will feature live music and food and beverages and a Kids Zone will host family-friendly activities including a Blue Jackets Replica Locker Room presented by AEP. Both tents will be heated.
Visitors to the Arena District during the All-Star Game celebrations will see Nationwide Blvd. illuminated with approximately 350,000 lights wrapped around trees and hung in canopies.