- As much as I do like Columbus and OH does deserve an NHL team somewhere, Columbus is not a big enough market for an NHL franchise. This is has relocation and un-used arena all over it.

I think what they saw in Columbus was a nice, medium-sized midwestern city with no professional competition and a very educated, white-collar population -- it's a college/government/insurance town, Madison on steroids without the pesky radicalism. Of course, "no professional competition" means nothing when you have Ohio State as "amateur" competition. I would have gone with Cincinnati, myself, but they don't have an NBA/NHL-ready arena. Columbus didn't either, but they built one. The problem is Ohio State built one too, and it's only a mile away or so, and this cannibalized the market such that OSU ended up having to take over management of Nationwide Arena to keep the Blue Jackets from failing.

Columbus has been okay for the league, but I believe the expansion slot would have been better used somewhere else, perhaps Milwaukee or Hamilton. Of course, good luck getting Hamilton through against opposition from Toronto, Buffalo, and most of all Boston.

I went to a game in a box a few years back against the Blackhawks in Columbus. They've done a decent job developing the area around the stadium.

I do not like Columbus at all. I'll be there next week. The downtown area is pretty run down but for the area I described. It's drab. Maybe you're referring to the areas outside the downtown?

I find Cincy much more to my liking, but I am partial given the beautiful building that houses my employer overlooking our aptly named baseball stadium.

I do not like Columbus at all. I'll be there next week. The downtown area is pretty run down but for the area I described. It's drab. Maybe you're referring to the areas outside the downtown?

I find Cincy much more to my liking, but I am partial given the beautiful building that houses my employer overlooking our aptly named baseball stadium.

I'm a Marriott guy. We're flying in and out this trip.

I try to be open minded about other cities as it is tough to compete with Chicago especially in the Midwest. Ranking them, I think I like the Twin Cities best followed by Milwaukee and then Cincy. Louisville has grown on me. Cleveland was better than I thought it would be, but that's not saying much. You can keep St Louis, Columbus, anything else in Illinois (i.e. Peoria).

That is what I thought before I went there. It exceeded my very low expectations. We went to a Cavs game, and they had that fun bar district. I'm not moving there, just relaying my inconsequential visit.

Stay in Easton on the NW side at the Hilton and thank me later.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cleveland is worse than Detroit now, or about to be. Detroit, for all its faults, does seem to get people jazzed about making it better again. Cleveland just gets neglected.

I'm a Marriott guy. We're flying in and out this trip.

I try to be open minded about other cities as it is tough to compete with Chicago especially in the Midwest. Ranking them, I think I like the Twin Cities best followed by Milwaukee and then Cincy. Louisville has grown on me. Cleveland was better than I thought it would be, but that's not saying much. You can keep St Louis, Columbus, anything else in Illinois (i.e. Peoria).

Ever go to The Top steakhouse in Bexley? You're a big St. Elmo's guy. This place is better in certain ways. Step inside and it's like a trip to 1958.

Columbus is a great little city. That downtown/arena district is like Rosemont though. There's a lot of great places if you get out of there.