Columbus’ Arena District will be a magnet of activity Wednesday when three major sports events draw up to 40,000 fans and possibly some serious traffic snarls to three major venues simultaneously.
Columbus police have been planning for weeks for an onslaught of sports fans into the Arena District, the first time that all three stadiums will be in use at the same time for soccer, hockey and baseball.
Added to the expected convergence of sports fans into the area will be a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which allows visitors to carry alcoholic beverages in marked cups, outdoors, throughout much of the district’s 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.
“We are going to be seeing a large concentration of people,” said Columbus Police Cmdr. Smith Weir, who oversees the Downtown area. “We’re encouraging people to enjoy yourself and have a nice time — but to build in some extra time, be mindful of traffic and be patient.”
Things will kick off at Huntington Park, which will have a minor league baseball game at 6:15 p.m. between the Columbus Clippers and Louisville Bats. Up to 5,000 fans are expected at the game on a day when sunny weather is predicted.
