Columbus gears up for the Arnold, Stadium Series hockey

State of play: It's the Arnold's 37th year of physique competitions and strength sports, while the NHL's popular Stadium Series pits the Blue Jackets against the Detroit Red Wings in a unique outdoor hockey game.

• The Arnold expects 100,000 visitors in 2025, while around 90,000 fans (mostly Jackets enthusiasts) are expected at Ohio Stadium.
• That's about five times the capacity of the Jackets' home ice at Nationwide Arena.

By the numbers: All those fans should translate to substantial revenue.

• Experience Columbus spokesperson Cam Tirado says the Arnold is expected to generate $15.6 million in direct visitor spending, including 8,400 hotel rooms for visitors from all 50 states and at least 80 countries.
• Greater Columbus Sports Commission spokesperson Jesse Ghiorzi says the Stadium Series game is expected to generate $20 million in visitor spending around what should be one of the top five attended hockey games of all time.

Between the lines: Ghiorzi tells Axios that Columbus has "leveled up, in terms of the national landscape of event host cities" in recent years, particularly thanks to a busy and high-profile 2024.

• Last year, in addition to regular games and events, the city hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the MLS All-Star Game festivities and a College Football Playoff game.

The big picture: Ghiorzi says Columbus' rapid rise in stature started in earnest with the 2018 Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena, which set an attendance record at the time and marked a "turning point."

If you go: Tickets to both events are still available.

• The Arnold Sports Festival continues through Sunday with varying daily schedules and ticket prices.
• The Stadium Series game starts at 6pm Saturday. Tickets start at $60.