Posted on Feb 16, 2026 / Travel

Doors at Nationwide Arena usually open about an hour before the event starts, and a lot of fans like to get there early so they can check out the place, grab food, and not feel rushed. For hockey games, people sometimes show up even earlier to catch warmups on the ice, though that’s not always guaranteed for every event. If you’re trying to get in early, there’s generally staff at the gates ready to let people through once they open, and they don’t always stop admitting folks even a bit after the event starts. That said, for big concerts or playoff games, you might want to leave even more time because the lines can be long and staff are super strict about safety rules. Bringing your ticket ready on your phone helps things go faster at the gate. If you’re unsure about event‑specific times, the venue usually posts exact door times on your ticket or online beforehand.
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