Blue Jackets Nailed Smallest Details to Ensure Perfect Stadium Series Experience

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Saturday night in Ohio Stadium at the 2025 Stadium Series turned into a night no one associated with the Columbus Blue Jackets will ever forget. Everyone will remember where they were when Justin Danforth scored the game-winning goal late in the third period.

Even before that goal, there were countless stories and memories made amongst the 94,751 fans who went to the game. Whether it was families being able to spend a night together watching their favorite team play hockey outside or it was enjoying the spectacle of everything the Stadium Series had to offer, these new memories will last a lifetime.

The question that kept coming up in my mind during the entire lead up to the Stadium Series was how much it took to make this event the perfect experience for the Blue Jackets.

For around three hours on Saturday night, we got to see the finished product in Ohio Stadium. A great hockey game was played between two teams fighting tooth and nail for playoff positioning. Once the game was over, fans left in celebration knowing that their Blue Jackets capped off one of their most incredible experiences in franchise history.

Why were the fans able to leave happy? That’s because the NHL, the Blue Jackets, the Ohio State University and everyone else involved with the planning nailed the execution every step of the way even to the very smallest detail.

Script Ohio, NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets
The 2025 Stadium Series nailed the smallest details. (Photo credit: Mark Scheig/The Hockey Writers)

It took a lot of planning and many hours of work to put the finished product together. It was a total team effort. Many aspects happened behind the scenes. When you consider the long hours and energy that was poured into this, it shines the Stadium Series in a much different perspective.

Starting With a Plan

We found out in the week leading up to the Stadium Series that the game was five years in the making. That came with a lot of dialogue, meetings and making sure every obstacle and challenge was addressed.

The story as to why there was never an outdoor game before in Columbus usually centered around Ohio Stadium not being winterized. The desire for a game had always been there with several entities pushing for it to happen. It was now about coming up with a plan to address the shortcomings.

Just consider for a moment how much dialogue there was that led up to the formal announcement of an outdoor game coming to Columbus. Everyone had to be on the same page in order to execute an event of this magnitude.

There had to be a plan. Without all of the time and effort behind the scenes, Saturday night doesn’t become a reality. If talks about the game were five years in the making, imagine what one day in those discussions looked like.

While several major challenges needed addressed, other smaller ones came up along the way. Ensuring that even the smallest detail was addressed helped lead to this game. You will see an even deeper appreciation for what you saw Saturday night when you view everything from that lens.

Building a Unique Experience

Every NHL outdoor game takes on a personality of its own. It’s uniqueness is what’s remembered when we look back. Just as it is in coming up with a plan, making sure it’s a unique experience comes down to nailing the smallest details.

Anyone who was at the Pep Rally at St. John Arena got to see firsthand the importance of the smallest details. The event started with a packed arena eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Blue Jackets. OAR went on stage before the team came to the stage.

When the time came for the Blue Jackets to walk out, they did so wearing a ball cap, hoodies and baggy pants. Those that didn’t take the time to ponder the meaning would easily miss the significance of the moment.

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Captain Boone Jenner called this the “ultimate Johnny fit.” The Blue Jackets have spent the season honoring the Gaudreau’s in everything they did. It was no different for one of their biggest games in franchise history.

Johnny Gaudreau typically wore casual clothes such as a T-shirt. The Blue Jackets walked into St. John Arena as a team wearing something Johnny would wear. The clothing even honored a local business in New Jersey where he grew up.

Looking around the crowd, one could tell that the meaning was starting to hit as time passed. That was just the beginning for what was going to happen. The Gaudreau family then led the Blue Jackets from St. John Arena to Ohio Stadium. It became one of the most powerful moments in franchise history.

Postgame, emotions were high. Head coach Dean Evason had to fight back tears. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was asked to reflect on the night walking out behind the Gaudreau family. Once again, nailing the smallest details led to a lifetime of memories.

“This experience was incredible,” Evason said. “Not just the win, obviously. That’s fantastic. But all of the stuff with Johnny made it even extra special, the Stadium, the Pep Rally, the walk in. There’s a lot of emotion here.”

“Johnny was here with us and he helped us win this game,” Merzlikins said. “The past two games when the family was here with us, we lost. One was in Calgary and one was our opening night. I’m glad that we could make a win happen in this game right now because that was a huge hit.”

Jenner admitted that the dress like Johnny idea came collectively amongst the older players on the team.

“We thought of it quite a while ago,” Jenner said. “Just thought it was fitting. To us, it’s a signature Johnny fit and we’ve seen him under the rink so many times in that or something very similar. It’s just a special thing we wanted to do for him and we’ve had so many good times with him in those clothes. Meredith helped us out so much with tracking down those sweaters that he always wore from Avalon. We just pieced together the rest and it was special to wear that and come in like that for us.”

Experience Inside Ohio Stadium

Once everyone got to their seats, they were treated to a memorable experience from everything they could see. Script Ohio came together on the ice pregame. After the game, the crowd sang Carmen Ohio the same way after a Buckeyes’ game.

But then looking around at the finer details, it added up to a perfect Stadium Series experience. The famed Cannon was in a prominent place near the ice. The crowd cheered loudly with each new blast from a goal scored.

As for the finer details, a cannon was rolled out with each goal scored. Denton Mateychuk’s 1-0 goal unveiled this neat twist on a cannon blast.

Ohio Stadium looked amazing for the game. We got the chance to come in periodically leading up to the game to see the progress of the build. One can’t help but have a new found appreciation of how important the small details are.

Whether we’re talking about making the ice, maintaining the ice, building the dashers, installing the glass or anything else associated with ensuring a rink safe for play, the NHL did meticulous work to make sure things were where they needed to be.

There was also the stage inside the stadium for the Twenty One Pilots performance. There was the pregame festivities that included shooting off of fireworks and a flyover. It was a lot to take in over a short period of time. Planning and execution had to be flawless. It was.

The Game Itself

There was still a huge game to play. The Blue Jackets had to try to get down to business after an emotional day. To their credit and to make the night complete, they did just that.

The Blue Jackets had to overcome some unique challenges to the conditions. Merzlikins admitted postgame that he wasn’t happy with his catcher. He compared it to have “two blockers.” The weather and wind played a factor in that as the cold made it so he couldn’t close his glove. Once he discovered the issue, he made the adjustment. He went on to make 43 saves which was the second-most saves in an outdoor game in NHL history.

Elvis Merzlikins Columbus Blue Jackets
Elvis Merzlikins’ in-game adjustment helped him earn the win at the 2025 Stadium Series. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Merzlikins said being at different ends of the ice presented challenges due to the wind. His in-game adjustment is a detail one might not consider given the situation, but it became a huge factor in the outcome of the game.

The Blue Jackets also were outplayed most of the game by a desperate Red Wings’ team. They hung in there and got timely scoring from their bottom-six. Specifically Danforth and Mathieu Olivier each scored huge goals. Olivier called Danforth “the little pit bull out there” during postgame indicating that his work ethic helped make sure the Stadium Series ended in a win.

Smallest Details Created Lasting Memories

The entire event showcased what Columbus is all about. The team on the ice takes after the identity of their coach. Evason believes in team first with everything they do. They are hard-working and give maximum effort with every game they play.

Then all of the various teams off the ice are just as hard-working. They made sure that every aspect of the event was as smooth as possible. The result of all that hard work was the nation and world seeing 94,751 fans pack into Ohio Stadium and watch the Blue Jackets shine.

Now consider this. What impact will this game have on the next generation? Perhaps now they can get into hockey because of the Stadium Series experience.

The overwhelming feeling from everyone who got to experience the game was a feeling of awe and wonder. It’s for this reason that the splendor of the outdoor game will always have its place in hockey.

The lasting memory of Saturday night will be how much planning and execution led to making sure it was perfect. Everyone involved in the game has a lot to be proud of.

Thanks to everyone nailing the smallest details, the 2025 Stadium Series was the perfect experience that will truly last a lifetime.