In the midst of an excruciating losing streak, there is one bit of happy news for Columbus Blue Jackets fans: the NHL has finally visited Ohio Stadium to evaluate it as a possible host site for an outdoor hockey game. Darren Dreger was first to report this on TSN’s Insider Trading segment. WSYX’s Clay Hall got comment from Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith (who is retiring at the end of this academic year):
On Thursday, Kevin Weekes added some more details about who the opponent could be in such a game:
Now that this feels like more of a reality, here my wishes and suggestions to the NHL as they work through details for this event:
Stadium Series, not Winter Classic
While Dreger and Hall used the term “Winter Classic” in their reporting, and while that event often seeks iconic or historic venues in the same class as The Shoe, I don’t think the timing works. The Winter Classic is a New Year’s Day tradition, and that could create a conflict if the Ohio State football team has a successful postseason. The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff starts next season, and the CFP committee has already announced their schedule for the next two seasons. Each year will feature a quarterfinal triple-header on January 1. It’s better for both fans and staff if they don’t have to choose between watching or attending one game or the other.
A Stadium Series game in February would avoid conflicting with any other local teams in a playoff game.
The opponent
Weekes identified Detroit as a likely opponent. The OSU-Michigan connection and the proximity make it a logical choice. The other close NHL team is Pittsburgh, and either the Red Wings or Penguins would bring in high television ratings. On the other hand, there’s also the fear that visiting fans from those cities would show up en masse, which would be an embarrassing look for the Blue Jackets. So let me go a little more outside the box and suggest the Minnesota Wild.
These teams are connected as expansion buddies in 2000. Whether the game is in the calendar year 2025 or the 2025-26 season, it could commemorate either the 25th anniversary of the franchises’ debut, or their 25th season.
Include OSU hockey, and not just the men
Another reason to pick Minnesota over Detroit is the role of college hockey in the event. Often these outdoor rinks host other activities in the week leading up to the game, and with Weekes mentioning an Ohio State vs. Michigan theme for a Blue Jackets-Red Wings game, a game between those Big Ten hockey foes would be a natural undercard.
But what about the OSU women’s team? After all, that’s the more successful program. They won the national title in 2022 and were runners-up last season. Coach Nadine Muzerall assisted at Blue Jackets Development Camp this summer. The University of Michigan does not have a women’s team, which is a shame (there are no D-1 women’s programs in the whole state. Weird, right?) The Minnesota Golden Gophers, however, have storied programs for both the men and women. Hell, those programs arguably have more passionate fans than the Wild, and would certainly make the trip for these games.
Alumni Celebration
Another event that often occurs in the lead-up to an outdoor game is an alumni game. If this game happens around the 25th anniversary, it gives the Blue Jackets a way to make up for the plans they had to scrap for the 20th anniversary, which happened during COVID. Make an effort to bring in as many former Blue Jackets as possible for that week. This event can be a celebration of Blue Jackets history. Think of all the old favorites we could cheer once more: Geoff Sanderson! Espen Knutsen! David Vyborny! Steve Mason! RJ Umberger! Matt Calvert! etc.
The Best Damn Band in the Land
If I’m attending a game at The Shoe, I want to see the band play. Have them do their entrance down the tunnel as part of the pregame festivities. Let them do the Script Ohio on ice. Then, have them set up and serve as pep band during the game itself. I would love to hear their take on “The Whip” after the Jackets score.
Highlight Columbus, not just Ohio State
That being said, even though it is on OSU’s campus, let’s not make it exclusively about that. Columbus has grown well beyond being a college town. Bring in famous musicians and actors from Columbus. Have a representative from the Columbus Crew. And the fledgling Columbus Fury! Include iconography from around Central Ohio as part of the decorations inside the stadium, that can get picked up by the cameras during the broadcast. Let this game be an advertisement for all the city has to offer.
Oh yeah, and in addition to the college teams playing on the ice, let some local high school teams play a game as well. Maybe the championship of the Blue Jackets Cup?
The Cannon!
You can’t leave the cannon at Nationwide Arena, right? Weather permitting, make a show of transporting it up High Street to campus. Put it right on the field, near the rink. Can you imagine the reaction of the opposing players as the cannon goes off right at their eye level after they give up a goal?
That’s enough of my ideas for now. What else would you like to see incorporated into this game? Which opponent? Thoughts on the uniform?