Route 1039: What’s New at Nationwide Arena This Blue Jackets Season
Forget Christmas. Forget pumpkin spice season. THIS is the most wonderful time of the year.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS HOCKEY IS BACK!
There is just something about walking into Nationwide Arena, hearing the cannon, seeing everyone in their CBJ gear and remembering that for the next several months, we all collectively have something to yell about.
And before the puck officially drops on the 2026-27 season, I got a little sneak peek at what's coming this year during the Blue Jackets media preview.
Spoiler alert: my wallet is already in danger.
Between the new food, drinks, apparel and collectibles, I walked out ready for hockey season — and with a tiny CBJ hockey helmet stress ball that I will absolutely be keeping in the studio to deal with Kirsch.
That's called planning ahead.
Okay, But Let's Talk About the FOOD. 🍴🏒
One of my favorite parts of getting a sneak peek at the new season was seeing what we'll be eating at Nationwide Arena this year.
And yes, I took this assignment VERY seriously (no matter what Kirsch says about my pickiness).
I got to try the Burnt End Mac & Cheese and the Southwestern Caesar Salad, and both were YUMMMMMY. The mac & cheese has pork belly burnt ends, BBQ sauce, cavatappi pasta, creamy Vermont white cheddar and French-fried onions. The salad has romaine, cotija cheese, roasted corn, black beans, red peppers, crispy tortilla strips and Caesar dressing.
But there are a LOT of new things to try this season, and where you're sitting will determine what you can get. So here's your cheat sheet:
🌭 CONCESSIONS
These are the new items you'll want to look for around the concession areas:
Pimento Fried Rice — $13.99
Fried rice, onion, bell pepper, celery, red kidney beans, black garlic sauce, pimento cheese and bonito flakes.
Surf & Turf Burger — $17.99
Burger patty topped with lobster salad and white American cheese. Because apparently we are fancy at hockey games now.
Loaded Tempura Shrimp — $10.99
Fried tempura shrimp, roasted corn, sambal aioli, popcorn ranch and sesame seeds.
Walki Talki — $11.49
Blue Takis, lettuce, ground beef, sour cream, pico and shredded pepper jack.
I feel like ordering something called a Walki Talki at a hockey game is an experience I need to have at least once.
🍕 MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
And if you're a pizza person, Jet's CBJ Pizza will be available at multiple locations throughout Nationwide Arena.
You can grab an individual pizza for $11.49, with larger sizes also available.
🍹 NEW BEVERAGES
There are some new drink options coming this season, too:
Mock-So Mule — A non-alcoholic option with housemade smoked blueberry syrup, lime juice, ginger ale and mint.
Blueberry Old Fashioned — Wild Turkey 101, housemade smoked blueberry syrup, orange bitters and Luxardo.
Sweater Weather — Crown Apple Whiskey, apple cider and vanilla simple syrup.
Feeling Peachy — New Amsterdam Vodka, tea liqueur, peach, sour and pink lemonade.
And because the culinary team apparently understood the assignment, the preview even had suggested food pairings for the drinks.
So basically my strategy this season is simple:
Come hungry.
Because between watching hockey, yelling when the cannon goes off, buying merch I absolutely do not need, and slowly eating my way through Nationwide Arena, I'm going to be VERY busy this Blue Jackets season.
🏒 CLUB LEVEL
If you're watching from the Club Level, you've got a few different additions:
Spicy Chicken Stack — $13.99
Fried Cowboy Candy, dill pickle cabbage and buttermilk popcorn ranch.
Korean Beef Nachos — $14.99
Queso blanco, gochujang aioli, bulgogi beef, cotija, charred corn, scallions and pickled onion.
Mediterranean Chopped Salad — $13.99
Chopped greens, chicken shawarma, cucumber, tomato, roasted chickpeas, pickled onion, feta and herb vinaigrette.
🍽️ SUITES
This is where you'll find the two things I got to try!
Southwestern Caesar Salad — $70, serves 12
Romaine hearts, cotija cheese, roasted corn, black beans, red peppers, crispy tortilla strips and Caesar dressing.
Burnt End Mac & Cheese — $115, serves 12
Pork belly burnt ends, BBQ sauce, cavatappi pasta, creamy Vermont white cheddar and French-fried onions.
MY PICK. SO GOOD.
There's also:
Root Beer Float Poutine — $75, serves 12
Funnel cake fries, root beer syrup, funnel cake-battered cheese curds, whipped topping and maraschino cherries.
Yes. You read that correctly. ROOT BEER FLOAT POUTINE.
Jet's Veggie Pizza — $42, serves 12
Jet's deep dish topped with sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives and tomatoes.
Over at Fanatics Sportsbook, look for:
Salmon Burger — $13.99
Housemade salmon patty, lemon-caper aioli, baby arugula and pickled onion.
Pork Belly BLT — $12.99
Griddled sourdough, hand-cut pork belly, arugula, tomatoes, pickled onion and ancho-garlic aioli.
Jalapeño Poppers — $10.99
Deep-fried jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and topped with wild berry drizzle.
That last combination sounds JUST weird enough that I need someone to try it and report back.
The Merch Situation Is Also Dangerous
If you know me, you know I LOVE merch.
I went into the preview thinking, Oh, I'll just see what they have.
That was adorable.
There were so many new pieces I wanted — and now that I'm a mom, the problem has doubled because I don't just want CBJ stuff for myself.
I want it for my son, too.
Tiny Blue Jackets apparel? Come on. How am I supposed to say no to that?!
The Blue Line has fresh styles for the season at both Nationwide Arena and Polaris Fashion Place, so consider this your warning that you may enter intending to buy one thing and leave looking like you were just drafted by the organization.
I Also Have a New Collecting Problem...This might be one of my favorite additions this season.
The Blue Jackets have launched The Monthly Buzz, a new collectible series featuring Stinger. On the first of every month, The Blue Line will release a new themed Stinger pin AND matching hockey puck.
The puck is $17.99, the pin is $14.99, and the matching set is $22.99 online while supplies last.
So naturally my brain immediately went:
"Well...now I need ALL of them."
Because you can't get October and then just stop in November. That's not how collecting works. Those are the rules.
Circle These CBJ Theme Nights 👀
There are some REALLY fun nights coming this season.
103.9 The Maverick - Route 103.9: IT'S ALMOST HOCKEY SEASON!
See You at Nationwide 💙❤️
Maybe it's the cannon.
Maybe it's Stinger.
Maybe it's the food.
Maybe it's the excuse to buy another sweatshirt I absolutely do not need.
Maybe it's watching my son get to experience all of these things now, too.
But there really is something special about hockey season in Columbus.
So dust off the jerseys. Start planning which theme nights you're going to. Decide which new food you're trying first. Make room on the shelf for those monthly pucks.
The 5th Line is back. The cannon is ready. And the most wonderful time of the year has officially arrived.
LET'S GO JACKETS! 🏒💙❤️
