<P> Prior to the establishment of the Blue Jackets, the last NHL team in the state of Ohio was the Cleveland Barons, who played from 1976 to 1978 . In Columbus, the Blue Jackets replaced the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, who played in the city from 1991 to 1999 . The Chill played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum where they had an 83 - game sellout streak, which was a minor league hockey record at the time . </P> <P> In November 1996, five investors formed a partnership called Columbus Hockey Limited, who then submitted an application and a $100,000 fee to the NHL office . The voters of Columbus were considering a referendum to build a publicly financed arena, a major step toward approval of their NHL bid . When League Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Columbus to meet with the community's leaders about the franchise proposal, there was concern that the voters might not pass the needed referendum . The civic leaders told Bettman that they would not be willing to foot the bill for the team if the referendum failed . However, just after the meeting adjourned, John H. McConnell (one of those who entered the bid) privately guaranteed Bettman that an arena would be built, referendum or not . </P> <P> Columbus' hopes for the bid dimmed when the May referendum failed . However, Nationwide announced on May 31, 1997, that it would finance the $150 - million arena . Subsequently, on June 25, 1997, the NHL announced that Columbus would receive a new franchise . Afterwards a "Name the Team" contest was held with the help from Wendy's throughout central Ohio during the month of August 1997 . Out of 14,000 submitted entries, the franchise with help from the NHL narrowed the 14,000 entries down to 10 names . Then with the information received from owner McConnell regarding Columbus' history, the League and the franchise narrowed the list of potential names down to two--Blue Jackets and Justice . The former, which referenced Ohio's contributions to the American Civil War, was eventually announced as the team name in November . </P> <P> On June 23, 2000, the NHL's two newest teams, the Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, took part in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary, Alberta . Under the draft's rules, 26 of the NHL's active 28 teams were allowed to protect one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards, or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards . The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators both had their full rosters protected because they were the two newest teams, only being in existence for one and two years, respectively . Both the Blue Jackets and Wild had to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards . Their final two picks could be players of any position . </P>

Where did the blue jackets get their name
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