Greater Columbus Convention Center – Things To Do With Your Team

The Greater Columbus Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility located in Columbus’ bustling downtown area, which is home to a variety of fantastic attractions, sights to see, and places to eat.

The convention center features 410,000 square feet of exhibit space, 65 meeting rooms, and 114,000 square feet of ballroom space. Their 74,000-square-foot Battelle Grand ballroom is the largest multipurpose ballroom in Ohio.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center also underwent an extensive modernization and expansion project in 2016. Upon completion of the project in 2017, the facility is now Silver LEED certified and features another 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. Other additions include upscale finishes and services, increased natural lighting, improved landscaping, and over 150 pieces of local art to complete the Columbus visitor experience.

As wonderful as all these new features and additions are, make sure you and your team spend some time out and about in the city. While you’re at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, you’ll be in the midst of the vibrant entertainment district of the 14th largest city in the United States, only minutes away from world-class dining and entertainment.

Things to Do

Short North Arts District

Directly north of downtown Columbus and the Greater Columbus Convention Center is the lively Short North Arts District. Since the 1980s, the Short North Arts District has been the “art and soul” of Columbus.

As soon as you see the distinctive lighted arches over High Street, you’ll know that you’ve arrived at this iconic neighborhood.

While there, you and your team can visit some of the over 300 exciting businesses that can be found there, the majority of which are locally owned or headquartered, including cafes, specialty shops, restaurants, and art galleries. 120 W Goodale St, Columbus, OH 43215

Goodale Park

Head west of the Short North Arts District and you’ll find the mostly residential Victorian Village. As the name suggests, the area primarily features outstanding Victorian architecture, but also some standout destinations, like the wonderfully scenic Goodale Park.

Donated to the city in 1851 by Lincoln Goodale, the first doctor to live in Columbus, this 32-acre park is the oldest park in Columbus and one of the oldest in the United States.

Although Goodale Park features a variety of family and kid-friendly amenities like an expansive playground, tennis and basketball courts, and a baseball diamond, the park’s main attractions are its picturesque view of the Columbus skyline and the serenity that can be found in particularly scenic areas of the park, including its pond, gazebo, and historic park shelter.

A walk through Goodale Park is a great way to spend some time outdoors with your team that will leave you all refreshed by when it’s time to return to the Greater Columbus Convention Center. 120 W Goodale St, Columbus, OH 43215

Nationwide Arena

Although you probably won’t have enough free time to catch a Columbus Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena, you can still see the arena from a whole new perspective as your take a tour of this grand facility. The free, hour-long tours offered at Nationwide Arena are a perfect way for you and your team to see just some of what makes Nationwide Arena one of the most unique venues in the country.

Points of interest on the tour include the arena’s main concourse, the Bud Light Terrace, the official team store, club level, the Pizzuti Club Lounge, loge boxes, and the OhioHealth Ice Haus. Time permitting, additional areas of the arena will also be included.

Make sure to plan your visit to Nationwide Arena ahead of time, as tours are only offered on non-event days and must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance. 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center

The Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center is set in a beautiful, authentically restored 1908 engine house and offers a variety of learning opportunities for visitors of all ages.

Through their unique collection of hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and motorized fire apparatus, visitors can retrace the history of firefighters and learn about their day-to-day lives in the engine house. The Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center also teaches fire safety, education, prevention, and life-saving procedures through interactive, informational, and fun displays.

If you’re visiting the museum with a group of younger children, have them explore the play area once they’ve completed their beneficial learning experience. There they can “drive” a real fire engine, dress up in firefighter gear, slide down a pole, and put out a stubborn “fire” with a real fire hose.

Special group rates and tours are available by appointment. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. 260 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215

Ohio Statehouse

If you have a few free hours and a particular interest in seeing Ohio tax dollars at work, head a little under 20 minutes south of the Greater Columbus Convention Center to the magnificent Ohio Statehouse.

Free guided tours of the statehouse are offered Monday through Friday and are approximately 45 to 60 minutes in length. Every guided tour is conducted by professional tour guides who know the ins and outs of the Ohio Statehouse. They’ll provide you and your team with plenty of interesting information and will be willing to answer any questions you might have as long as they aren’t too political! Groups of 10 or more are required to call at least two weeks in advance.

If you and your team would prefer to see the statehouse at your own pace, the Ohio Statehouse allows for self-guided tours as well. Just pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the front desk of the statehouse and you’re all set. The brochure will provide you with a map of each floor as well as a brief explanation of the statehouse’s most prominent features.

After you’re done touring the Ohio Statehouse, stop by the gift shop and cafeteria located on the ground floor to pick up the perfect keepsake, grab a quick bite to eat, or both. 1 Capitol Sq, Columbus, OH 43215

Center of Science and Industry

Although it’s located just over 20 minutes away from the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the Center of Science and Industry, or COSI as it’s better known, is definitely worth the trek if you and your team have the time. COSI is one of the most respected science centers in the nation, welcoming more than 30 million visitors since it first opened in 1964.

At COSI you and your team will find endless opportunities to explore science in a way that’s as fun as it is informative. COSI brings science to life for guests of all ages with more than 300 interactive exhibits throughout their discovery-based and themed exhibition areas.

In addition to their amazing exhibits, COSI also features the hair-raising Electrostatic Generator Show, the only High Wire Unicycle ride in the country, the seven-story National Geographic Giant Screen Theater, a Science2Go! retail store, and more.

Group tours and discounted admission prices are available for groups of 12 or more. 333 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Columbus or any city, visit https://www.hotels4teams.com/. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!

Places to Eat

Bareburger

Bareburger is a New York-based burger joint that brings a taste of the Big Apple to Columbus’ Short North Arts District.

Their menu offers a healthy, sustainable twist on typical fast food fare. All of Bareburger’s meats are free-range, pasture and humanely raised, and are free of any antibiotics or gluten.

Their selection of burgers and toppings ranges from the classic combination of lettuce, tomato, and onion atop a beef patty to more adventurous choices like pickled green tomatoes, chickpea onions, and tomato-fig jam on patties made from wild boar, duck, and more. 463 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215

Hot Chicken Takeover

Believe it or not, you and your team can indulge in some of the best hot chicken north of the Mason-Dixon line just three minutes from the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Located on the second floor of the historic North Market, Hot Chicken Takeover is a fast casual restaurant specializing in the signature Nashville specialty that they’re named for.

In addition to their renowned hot chicken, their menu also features mouthwatering sides like mac and cheese, slaw, banana pudding, and waffles that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. 59 Spruce St, Columbus, OH 43215

OH Pizza and Brew

For some of the best pizza in the Columbus area, take your team to OH Pizza and Brew. Just a few of their over 10 specialty pizzas include the Kaua’i pizza, topped with pineapple, capicola ham, and bacon; the BBQ chicken pizza, with BBQ sauce, chicken, pineapple, red onion, roasted red pepper, and cheddar Jack cheese; and the Buckeye garlic pizza, with their homemade garlic butter and herb sauce, six-cheese blend, and your choice of one topping.

If not everyone on your team is a fan of pizza, the menu at OH Pizza and Brew also features a variety of other dishes, including stuffed potato skins, homemade buffalo tots, salads, wings, and more. 250 N 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215

Nada

Located in Columbus’ Arena Distict approximately a 10 minute walk from the convention center is Nada, a casual restaurant serving up a modern take on classic Mexican cuisine.

Start your meal off right with some salsa or guacamole for the table and then dig into savory dishes like crispy pork belly tacos, braised chicken enchiladas, or quesadilla “taco” salad for your main course.

If you’ll be visiting the Greater Columbus Convention Center over the weekend, consider stopping by Nada for brunch. The brunch menu at Nada features both savory breakfast options like huevos rancheros and eggs benedicto as well as French toast topped with bananas foster, Canadian maple syrup, whipped cream, and candied options for those on your team with a bit of a sweet tooth. 220 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

Upon arriving in Columbus, the first thing that you and your team will notice is all of the interesting things there are to see and do there, many of which located just a short walk away from the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

So, when it comes time to venture out of the Greater Columbus Convention Center and explore Ohio’s capital city, have everyone put on their best pair of walking shoes and try to visit as many of these fun and unique places as you possibly can.