COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority has applied for $100 million in state funding to help finance a $400 million renovation of Nationwide Arena, tapping into a grant program funded by unclaimed state dollars that remain under legal challenge.
The request, submitted Jan. 30 through the Ohio Sports Facility Performance Grant Program, represents 25% of the project’s total estimated cost — the maximum allowed under program guidelines.
Nationwide Arena, a 684,000-square-foot, 20,000-seat facility in downtown Columbus, opened in 2000 and is home to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The authority, which acquired the arena in 2012, currently owns and operates the facility.
Project Scope and Timeline
According to the authority’s grant application and development plan, the renovation would take place over several years, with major construction potentially beginning in 2027 and concluding by 2030.
Phase one began in 2025 and focused on replacing critical building systems, including the roof, at a cost of about $60 million. The state previously allocated $2 million toward that phase through the capital budget.
Future phases are expected to address aging infrastructure and expand fan amenities. Planned upgrades include an expanded Front Street entrance, a new outdoor terrace and plaza, upper-concourse food and event spaces, additional elevators and escalators, restroom renovations, technology upgrades, expanded premium seating and replacement of an aging parking garage.
The authority said key building systems are nearing the end of their useful life, citing a 2020 facility condition assessment.
If the state grant is awarded, the authority said it would initiate schematic design and engineering work this year and pursue acquisition of an adjacent office building at 375 N. Front St. The building would be integrated into the project to expand concourse space and relocate team offices.
Budget and Financing Plan
The total project budget is capped at $400 million, including about $323 million in construction costs, with the remainder covering design, engineering, management and contingency expenses.
In addition to the $100 million state grant, the authority anticipates issuing roughly $110 million in bonds backed by an increase in the arena admissions tax and a larger share of local casino tax revenues allocated to the facility.
The city of Columbus and Franklin County are each expected to contribute $25 million in direct support, contingent on state funding and private investment. Private contributions, including cash from Blue Jackets ownership and third-party partners, are projected to total between $100 million and $140 million.
As part of the financing plan, the authority anticipates renegotiating and extending lease and arena use agreements with the Blue Jackets, including nonrelocation commitments.
Unclaimed-Funds Program Under Scrutiny
The Sports Facility Performance Grant Program is funded through Ohio’s pool of unclaimed funds, part of the state’s most recent two-year operating budget of about $60 billion. Lawmakers designated more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds for cultural and sports facilities statewide, including $600 million set aside for a Cleveland Browns stadium project in Brook Park.
The use of unclaimed funds for stadium and arena construction has drawn criticism and litigation. A class-action lawsuit filed by former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann seeks to block the state from using unclaimed-fund dollars for sports facilities, arguing the money should remain available for Ohioans owed those funds.
Current Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also criticized the approach in a 2025 letter to Gov. Mike DeWine, warning that diverting unclaimed funds could disadvantage residents attempting to recover property.
Arena officials have previously argued that Nationwide Arena differs from the Browns’ proposal because it is publicly owned and already serves as a long-standing economic driver for the region.
Economic Impact Projections
An independent economic impact study cited in the application found the arena hosts approximately one million guests annually and generates about $196 million in visitor spending each year. The facility directly employs nearly 1,000 full- and part-time workers, according to the authority.
The study projects Nationwide Arena will generate $1.5 billion in state and local taxes over 30 years, including roughly $10 million annually in income taxes. The broader Arena District has attracted more than $2.2 billion in development investment and supports nearly 20,000 employees, the authority said.
In its application, the authority said continued reinvestment is necessary to sustain those returns and maintain the arena’s competitiveness in attracting major sporting events and touring entertainment productions.
It is unclear when state officials will announce awards under the Sports Facility Performance Grant Program.