Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center

Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center Seating Chart.

One building, two names, and the seat answer

The Jerome Schottenstein Center is Ohio State University's arena on its Columbus campus, home to Buckeyes men's and women's basketball and men's ice hockey and one of central Ohio's biggest concert rooms. Since it opened in 1998, the seating bowl inside has been branded Value City Arena, so tickets often read "Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center." Wikipedia gives a capacity of 19,049, cut to 18,809 for basketball, the largest in the Big Ten. For a Buckeyes game, the best seats are Entry Level (100s) sideline sections across from the benches, around 121–124; for an end-stage concert, the lower sections angled toward the stage and the center Terrace sections facing it are the best values.

The name is in transition. The parent company of Value City Furniture filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 24, 2025, and the Columbus Dispatch reported that Ohio State plans to phase out the Value City name while working with the Schottenstein family on a new naming partner. As of late 2026, the venue's own website calls the building simply the Schottenstein Center, and fans have long shortened it to the Schott. All three names describe the same arena at 555 Borror Drive.

Entry, Club and Terrace levels

The bowl has three numbered levels. Section ranges below follow RateYourSeats' section map; the venue's own guide uses the Entry Level and Terrace Level names.

• Entry Level, 100s: the lower bowl, roughly sections 101–134, wrapping the floor. A typical section such as 127 runs from row D to row S. Facing the court, lower seat numbers are on your right.
• Club Level, 200s: a smaller ring of club seats between the two bowls.
• Terrace Level, 300s: the upper bowl, sections 301–334. A Terrace section such as 306 runs from row A at the front to row U, with the entrance at row A, so you walk up to your seat.
• Floor: for concerts and some events, floor sections numbered Floor 1 through Floor 9 are added.

For basketball, RateYourSeats places the team benches in front of sections 104–107, with sections 121–124 across the court.

Best seats for Buckeyes basketball and hockey

• Best sideline view: Entry Level sections 121–124, across from the benches. You look straight at both benches and the student section behind them, with the whole floor in front of you.
• Behind the benches: sections 104–107 put you near the coaches. The student section, the Buckeye Nuthouse, has sat behind the team benches since a 2010 reconfiguration (and behind the basket the opponent attacks in the second half), with 240 seats behind it tarped off so the fans in back can see.
• Value: center Terrace sections such as 306 and 319, which RateYourSeats shows with a center-court view. The Terrace Level rarely sells out for basketball, so these are often the easiest seats to find.
• Hockey: the same principle holds: center ice on the Entry Level, about ten rows up, so the glass does not interrupt the view of the far end. Capacity drops to about 17,500 for hockey.

Seats to be careful with: low rows directly behind the baskets, where the stanchion blocks the far end, and the Terrace corners, the farthest seats from the floor. Expect noise and standing near the Nuthouse.

Concert setups

Ohio State says the arena holds more than 20,000 for concerts, depending on the stage. In the common end-stage layout, the stage sits in front of sections 111–117.

• Floor: closest to the stage; whether seated or standing depends on the tour.
• Entry Level side sections near the stage: raised above the floor crowd with a clear angle. Most fans' best balance of distance and view.
• Terrace: RateYourSeats names sections 307 and 321 as the best upper options for end-stage shows despite the side angle; sections straight across from the stage show the full production.
• Skip: sections beside or behind the stage line, and seats marked limited view. Section 208, for example, is rated well for basketball but poorly for concerts.

Past headliners include Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj and Tyler, the Creator, and the Rolling Stones played the arena in its first season.

Parking, rideshare and getting to campus

As of 2026, there is a parking charge for most events, and the lots are cashless (cards and phone payments only). The main options are the Scarlet Lots along Borror Drive, which include disability parking, and the Buckeye Lots off Ackerman Road. On busy nights you may be sent to lots south of Lane Avenue near St. John Arena and Ohio Stadium. More than 10,000 surface and garage spaces are within a short walk, and special event parking can be bought ahead through CampusParc.

• Rideshare: drop-off and pickup is usually along Borror Drive on the north side; after some events, pickups are moved to Lane Avenue next to St. John Arena.
• Shuttles: free shuttles from the Buckeye Lots run for some large events but not for most.

Check the venue's parking page before you go.

No-bag rule, alcohol and entry

The Schottenstein Center has one of the strictest bag rules in college sports. As of 2026, bags and purses of any size are not permitted; wallets and wristlets up to 5 by 8 by 1 inches are allowed. A dedicated lane handles one bag per guest for medical, dietary or childcare needs.

• Doors typically open 60 to 90 minutes before the event.
• There is no re-entry except for personal emergencies.
• The building is cashless.
• Alcohol is sold to guests 21 and over, two drinks at a time. Sales stop at the 10-minute mark of the second half for men's basketball, at the start of the fourth quarter for women's basketball, at the start of the third period for hockey, and about an hour before the end of concerts.
• Tobacco and marijuana are banned on all university property, including parking lots.

Rules change, so read the venue's A–Z guide before you go.

History of the Schott

The arena opened on November 3, 1998, with a men's basketball game, replacing St. John Arena for basketball and the OSU Ice Arena for hockey. It is named for Jerome Schottenstein, founder of Schottenstein Stores, the project's lead benefactor; the family's 12.5 million dollar gift during construction put the Value City name on the seating bowl. That name passed from the Value City department stores, which closed in 2008, to Value City Furniture.

Since 2012 the arena has been managed together with downtown Nationwide Arena by a company formed by Ohio State, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the county convention authority and Nationwide; the venue now brands that operator as Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment. The building hosted the 2005 NCAA men's ice hockey championship, the 2002 Jeopardy College Championship and the last performance by the Three Tenors together.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Value City Arena
• Columbus Dispatch via AOL – What will happen to the naming rights to Value City Arena?
• Schottenstein Center – A–Z Guide
• Schottenstein Center – Directions and Parking
• Ohio State Buckeyes – Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center
• RateYourSeats – Schottenstein Center sections
• RateYourSeats – Schottenstein Center section 306
• Land-Grant Holy Land – Game day atmosphere at the Schott