Columbus Blue Jackets Stadium Series Game: Game/Event Reactions
A little over a year ago, when THN Columbus was told by sources that the 2025 Stadium Series Game was officially going to be held at Ohio Stadium, we had doubts, even though everything we were told was rock solid. After several weeks of debating whether to release the info, we felt it was time. Ohio Stadium was going to be hosting a 2025 NHL Stadium Series game to be played between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings on March 1st, 2025.
Several weeks later, Gary Bettman announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets, in cooperation with The Ohio State University, would be hosting the 2025 Stadium Series Game at Ohio Stadium. That was a year ago. Yesterday, the game finally happened.
For myself, the day started at 8:30 AM. We joined a tailgate in the East Lot of Ohio Stadium. It started off relativity quiet. The group of five or six people I was with took a bit to set everything up, but they got the grill fired up to start serving everyone breakfast. An excellent start to what would turn out to be a very long day. It was extremely windy all day and very cold. Some say it was perfect for hockey.
As the morning went by, the area around Ohio Stadium started getting more and more active. The East lot started filling up, and more people started to tailgate. As for the tailgate I was at, it also started to get a bit more lively. Before we knew it, it was lunchtime, so the burgers and hot dogs went hitting the grill.
By this time, the NHL's fanfest was starting across the street in front of St. John Arena, so fans started pouring into the area. Every person that was at our tailgate has at least five to six friends show up. It was getting quite large at this point, but there was plenty of food and drinks to go around.
Before you knew it, it was time for the team to walk from St. John Arena into Ohio Stadium. Led by Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's family, the team made the couple hundred-yard walk across the street into the stadium, with fans cheering and clapping.
We made our way into Ohio Stadium about an hour before game time to take in warmups and everything else that went with it. The stadium looked absolutely amazing. From the pregame to the 21 Pilots concert at the first intermission, to the final horn, everything about the stadium setup and festivities was perfect.
Of course, there was a game to be played. In front of 94,751 fans, most of whom were rooting for the Blue Jackets, Columbus took down the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 in a wild game. This was the second most attended NHL game in its history.
When Denton Mateychuk scored the opening goal for Columbus, you couldn't actually hear the goal horn or cannon go off because the CBJ fans were so loud. The same goes for the Justin Danforth game-winner and empty goal by Adam Fantilli. When the horn and cannon went off, you couldn't hear it due to the deafening crowd. Throughout the night, the Horseshoe crowd chanted C-B-J, Let's Go Jackets, and also the O-H-I-O chant, which is a legendary chant at Ohio State football games.
Despite being pummeled all night to the tune of 46 shots, Columbus goalie Elvis Merzļikins made 43 saves on the night, helping to spark the Jackets to their 4th straight win and 20th win at home. They now sit with 68 points and in the wild card one spot. They're also just four points behind the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes for second place in the Metro Division.
We also got some fan reactions to the Stadium Series Game at the Shoe:
Geoffrey Miller: Absolutely historical day for our franchise and fanbase. I couldn't be more proud of this franchise, this fanbase, and our city. Columbus is firmly on the hockey map.
Garrett Mann: What a great event put on by the NHL, CBJ, and Ohio State. With the buzz going around the city for the past few days, and I'm sure that'll stick around for the next few days, let's hope we don't have to wait another quarter-century for another one.
Sarah Kent: Yesterday was an unforgettable experience that Blue Jackets fans will never forget. The NHL and the Blue Jackets did a tremendous job making it a spectacular event. From the cannon "helmet" stickers on the field after each goal, the firing of the cannon, the band playing the goal song, and all the other little details, it is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Tyrin Franklin: This is one of the best things to happen to Columbus hockey since Johnny came. All hockey fans around Ohio traveling to see this game. We’ve been waiting YEARS for this, and it did not disappoint. Seeing Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Pens fans, Capital fans, etc., great outcome. Whoever set up this game needs a raise. The hint of Ohio State football with Blue Jackets hockey was perfect. To the pep rally/skull sessions, the players walk, the band, script Ohio on the ice, and adding decals to the field after every goal! This was one of the best hockey experiences of my life. Johnny and Matty should’ve been here.
Dave Fetzer: It was an awesome event. They were able to put together an event that felt like you were at an Ohio State football game. Shout out to the students that came and provided the student section energy, starting O-H-I-O chants around the stadium, as well as the band being there and playing the Blue Jackets goal song after a goal. It had the same feel as them playing the fight song after a touchdown. The tailgaters were there pregame, and the general atmosphere felt like a football game, outside of the fact that you were watching hockey. The attention to detail in my mind was incredible. The floor of the field being the speckled silver to look like the football helmet, and giving the helmet a sticker every time the Jackets scored was incredible. The way the band played the goal song. The fight song was incredible. The Cannon was incredible and of course, all of the nods to Johnny from what the Jackets were wearing walking to the stadium, the Red Wings wearing Gaudreau jerseys into the stadium, Meredith, Jane, and the kids leading the team both into the stadium and onto the field was all incredible, and even the fact that they brought chaos Elmo brought everything together. The only two things that I felt we were missing last night were the chili chant and DMX. Other than that, they did an absolutely incredible job of replicating a Blue Jackets home game in a football style at a football stadium.
Some Facts About The 2025 NHL Stadium Series Game At Ohio Stadium
- 94,751 fans were in attendance, making it the second highest attended NHL game in history.
- James van Reimsdyk is the all-time leading point scorer in outdoor game history with 7 points.
- Boone Jenner and Dylan Larkin became the first players in major professional sports history to be interviewed by a Deaf broadcaster. NHL in ASL did the interview.
Quotes From Players and Coaches
- Zach Werenski - This whole day was in honor of him. I think it was perfect how it was all set up, and it was a really special day for everyone involved.
- Zach Werenski on the pregame - I think that’s when it kind of felt real, to be honest. Warmups are cool, but once the building gets full like that and the flyover happens and the flag goes up, and you’re looking around, it’s pretty surreal.
- Dean Evason - I understand now why the football players want to go out and rip people’s heads off. My God, you’re just jacked. But to have the presence of Johnny with us in that setting, all your emotions, like, you want to cry, fight. You want to get after it, right? So, yeah, Johnny’s with us here.
- Mortiz Seider on wearing Johnny Gaudreau jerseys: It's a little thing we can give back, and I think it was the right decision.
- Sean Kuraly, on hearing the O-H-I-O chant - It was pretty awesome. I’ve been up there when I’m [spelling out] the letters.
- Elvis Merzļikins - Having the Gaudreau family walking in front of us it was amazing, especially kids as well. As Dean said, Johnny was here with us, and he helped us to win this game.
- Elvis Merzļikins on the game - This night was definitely my favorite night so far that I played in hockey games. It was amazing. It was seriously amazing.
- Meredith Gaudreau on seeing a giant Johnny Gaudreau banner being passed around the stadium - That’s incredible. I didn’t see that before. It’s just so cool to see everything Columbus has done and everything Detroit’s doing in his honor. It’s really, really touching.
- Dylan Larkin - This night was special, and I hope Mr. and Mrs. Gaudreau had something to smile about tonight. I want both of our teams in the playoffs, and I think those guys have quite the story going right now, and sometimes it’s bigger than the game.
Final Statement From Meredith Gaudreau per CBJ Public Relations:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the NHL, Detroit Red Wings and especially the Columbus Blue Jackets for honoring John in so many ways during the Stadium Series this weekend. The management, players, wives and fans from both organizations made my family feel so loved and supported. Thank you most of all for including our children by making them a big part of all the events throughout the weekend. I know John truly appreciates it as much as I do.
All my love,
Meredith Gaudreau
Yesterday was perfect in every aspect. Great job, NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ohio State!
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