Parking, bag policy, transit and history are on the main Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center guide.
The Value City Arena seat answer
Value City Arena is the seating bowl inside the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Ohio State's campus, so the Schottenstein Center seating chart and the Value City Arena seating chart are the same map. Ohio State has said it will phase out the Value City name, and many tickets already read simply Schottenstein Center.
The short answer: for Buckeyes basketball, sit in the Entry Level (100s) sideline sections, 104–107 on the bench side or 121–124 across the court. For an end-stage concert, the Entry Level side sections nearest the stage, especially 106 and 122, give the best mix of distance and angle. For the lowest-cost view of the whole floor, the Terrace Level (300s) at center court is the pick.
- Best basketball view: 104–107 and 121–124.
- Best concert angle: 106 and 122, then 107 and 121.
- Short rows, lower cost: the Club Level (200s).
- Value: center Terrace sections such as 306.
Entry, Club and Terrace: how the levels are numbered
The arena calls its levels the Entry Level, the Club Level and the Terrace Level. Section ranges below follow RateYourSeats' section index and the premium-seating page on the arena's own site.
- Entry Level (100s): sections from about 101 to 134 ring the floor. On the basketball layout, the team benches sit in front of 104–107, the end that faces an end stage covers roughly 111–117, the opposite sideline is 121–124 (the Center Court Club, per the arena), and the remaining numbers wrap the other end back toward 101.
- Club Level (200s): sections 201 through 234, a shallow ring set just above the Entry Level. RateYourSeats describes it as an extension of the 100s, with fewer than ten rows in each section. Club ticket holders use the Huntington Club concourse.
- Terrace Level (300s): sections 301 through 334, the upper bowl, with the same sideline-and-end pattern as the levels below. Center-court Terrace sections include 306 on one sideline.
- Floor: for concerts, nine reserved floor sections, Floor 1 through Floor 9.
The Champions Club, an all-inclusive area of 24 seats for men's basketball, sits in a luxury suite at the west end, per the arena. Endowment Club seats for basketball are on the floor.
Rows, seat numbers and where seat 1 sits
Row and seat details come from RateYourSeats' level and section pages; the arena does not publish row counts, so treat these as a guide.
- Entry Level: sideline section 105 runs from row A to row U, and end section 118 from row C to row U, with the entrance at row U at the top. For basketball and concerts, the lowest rows are not always in use: row D is usually the first row in section 105, and row M in section 118. Most side-section rows hold 21 seats, numbered 1–21.
- Club Level: a few short rows. RateYourSeats counts 14 seats in rows A–E and 18 seats from row F upward.
- Terrace Level: about 20 rows, A through U in section 306, with the entry tunnel at row A. You walk up to your seat, so a low row means fewer stairs.
- Concert floor: Floor 1–3 run rows A–T, Floor 4–6 rows A–P and Floor 7–9 rows A–L, per RateYourSeats. Floor layouts change by tour.
Seat numbers: RateYourSeats states that, facing the floor, seat 1 sits on the right aisle and numbers rise to the left, on both the Entry and Club levels. The arena does not print the rule, so confirm the seat location with the seller if an aisle matters.
Best seats for Buckeyes basketball
Value City Arena is a basketball bowl first, and the sidelines carry the demand.
- Bench side, 104–107: RateYourSeats puts the Ohio State bench in front of 104 and 105 and the visitors in front of 106 and 107. Middle rows clear the bench and the scorer's table.
- Across the court, 121–124: the arena sells these as the Center Court Club. You face both benches and see the whole floor without the bench in front of you.
- Club Level center: RateYourSeats rates section 208 highly for basketball. Short rows keep even the back of the section close.
- Terrace center: 306 and the matching sections across the court give a full, straight-on view and are the easiest seats to find, since the Terrace rarely sells out for basketball.
Student section: sources place it differently. RateYourSeats puts it around section 114, where the band sits, along with nearby sections and section 314 upstairs; Ohio State fan coverage has described the Buckeye Nuthouse as sitting behind the team benches since a 2010 change. Expect standing and noise near either spot, and check the current season's map.
Think twice about: low rows directly behind a basket, where the stanchion blocks the far end, and the Terrace corners, the farthest seats from the floor.
Ohio State hockey seating
Buckeyes men's hockey uses the same bowl with a smaller capacity, about 17,500 by Ohio State's figure. The sideline rule still holds: Entry Level sections along 104–107 and 121–124 put you at center ice. Sit about ten rows up so the glass and the boards do not interrupt the far end of the rink, and use the Club Level for a high, close view that shows plays developing. End sections give a good look at one net and a poor look at the other.
Value City Arena concert seating chart
For a typical end-stage concert, the stage sits at the end of the arena in front of sections 111–117, per RateYourSeats, and the reserved floor is split into nine blocks: 1–3 at the front, 4–6 in the middle, 7–9 at the back. Ohio State says some concert setups hold more than 20,000.
- Floor 1–3: the closest seats, at stage level. Your view depends on the people in front of you.
- Entry Level sides, 106 and 122: RateYourSeats' pick for a clear, raised view of the whole stage.
- Entry Level sides, 107 and 121: the closest side sections, with a first row a few feet from the stage. The seats nearest the stage, seats 12–21 in 107 and 1–10 in 121, can have a sharp angle and lose part of the stage.
- Terrace: 307 and 321 are RateYourSeats' recommended upper sections despite the side view. Sections at the far end, facing the stage, show the full production head-on.
- Skip: sections beside or behind the stage line and any seat sold as limited view. Club section 208, strong for basketball, rates poorly for concerts.
Center-stage and in-the-round shows change the map entirely, so read the layout attached to your event before buying.
Accessible seating and elevators
Per the arena's accessibility page, accessible seating is available on all levels and at all price levels. Key points as published in 2026:
- Companion seats: up to three, in the same row where possible, otherwise as close as possible.
- Exchanges: guests with disabilities can swap a standard seat for an accessible seat in the closest comparable location, ideally through the ticket office before the event.
- Elevators: near sections 104, 118 and 127, reaching all public areas.
- Locations on the Entry Level: Guest Services at section 127 and a wellness room at section 104.
- Where wheelchair spaces sit: RateYourSeats shows wheelchair seating behind row R in Entry Level sections such as 105 and 118.
Guests who request an interpreter at least two weeks ahead are seated with a view of the interpreter. Confirm current details with the arena before the event.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Value City Arena seating chart the same as the Schottenstein Center seating chart?
Yes. Value City Arena is the seating bowl inside the Jerome Schottenstein Center, so both names describe one map with Entry (100s), Club (200s) and Terrace (300s) levels.
What are the best seats at the Schottenstein Center for basketball?
Entry Level sideline sections 104–107, on the bench side, and 121–124, across the court. Center Terrace sections such as 306 are the value choice.
How many rows are in a section at Value City Arena?
Per RateYourSeats, Entry Level sections run to row U and Terrace sections have about 20 rows, A through U. Club sections are shallow, with fewer than ten rows.
Where is seat 1 in a row at the Schottenstein Center?
RateYourSeats places seat 1 on the right aisle as you face the floor, with numbers rising to the left. Confirm with the seller if you need an aisle seat.
Where should I sit for a concert at the Schottenstein Center?
For an end-stage show, the floor up front or Entry Level side sections 106 and 122. Sections 307 and 321 are the stronger Terrace choices.
Does the Schottenstein Center have wheelchair seating?
Yes, on every level and at every price level, with up to three companion seats. Elevators are near sections 104, 118 and 127.