Arnold Sports Festival returns to Columbus: what to know before you go
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — This week, a sports tradition decades in the making returns to central Ohio for four days of competitions, exhibits and incredible people-watching.
Arnold Sports Festival dates and tickets
From Feb. 29 to March 3, Columbus will become a haven for athletic enthusiasts as the Arnold Sports Festival takes over the city. The action will unfold across several venues including the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Ohio Expo Center.
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Visitors can find daily Expo tickets, fast passes for early access, or three-day tickets on the festival’s website. Events like the NPC Worldwide Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding Championships or the IFBB Pro League Meet and Greet require separate tickets.
The Arnold Classic and must-see highlights
The Arnold Classic men’s bodybuilding championships will be headlined by 2023 Arnold Classic champion Samson Dauda and 2022 Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan. The competition begins with prejudging from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, and the finals will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Both will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center’s Battelle Grand.
The Arnold Strongman and Strongwoman Classics are scheduled for two days, Friday and Saturday. Thor Bjornsson is set to return to the Arnold Strongman Classic stage for the first time since winning three straight titles from 2018 to 2020. For the women’s competition, two-time defending champion Victoria Long will seek her third straight title. Both are held in the Strongman Arena.
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There will also be special appearances, including the Arnold Sunday Showcase featuring the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger himself at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Battelle Grand.
Exploring the Arnold Expo
Held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, The Arnold Expo — a bustling hub of over 800 booths representing 300 companies — will be at the heart of the action. Attendees will experience a world of cutting-edge sports gear, apparel, and nutrition. Visitors can talk to experts, sample the latest products and soak up the energy of this premier sports extravaganza.
Arnold Sports Festival parking and shuttles
Parking is available at the Ohio Expo Center for $12. Free shuttles will take guests between the Ohio Expo Center and the Greater Columbus Convention Center from Thursday to Sunday. Public transportation and ridesharing services are also accessible.
The Arnold history
The Arnold Classic was co-founded in 1989 by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer, long-time mayor and vice mayor of Worthington, Ohio. However, the origin of the competition dates to 1970, when Lorimer invited Schwarzenegger to compete in the Mr. World competition, which Schwarzenegger won. After winning, Schwarzenegger promised to partner with Lorimer to promote the sport of bodybuilding.
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The first Arnold Classic had two events and 30 competitors. The professional men’s bodybuilding competition was known as the Arnold Classic and the professional women’s bodybuilding competition was called Ms. International.
This year marks the 36th anniversary of the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, now the nation’s largest sports festival featuring the world’s best physique and strength sports. Lorimer died in 2022 at the age of 96.
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