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Value City Arena

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Parent: The Ohio State University Hop 4
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Value City Arena
NameValue City Arena
LocationOhio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Broke ground1996
Opened1998
OwnerOhio State University
OperatorOhio State University
ArchitectNBBJ
Structural engineerThornton Tomasetti
General contractorTurner Construction
Former namesJerome Schottenstein Center (1998–2000)
Seating capacityBasketball: 18,809, Ice hockey: 17,500, Concerts: 20,000
TenantsOhio State Buckeyes men's basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey

Value City Arena. It is the primary indoor sports and entertainment venue located on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Opened in 1998, the facility is the central component of the larger Jerome Schottenstein Center complex and serves as the home court for several Ohio State Buckeyes athletic teams. The arena is named for the Value City Furniture retail chain, which secured naming rights, and has hosted a wide array of major sporting events, concerts, and family shows.

History

Planning for a new multi-purpose arena began in the early 1990s under the leadership of Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Andy Geiger. The project was financed through a combination of private donations, notably a landmark gift from philanthropist Jerome Schottenstein, and university bonds. Construction, managed by Turner Construction, commenced in 1996 on the site of the former St. John Arena parking lots. Upon its opening in November 1998, it was initially called the Jerome Schottenstein Center before Value City Furniture acquired the naming rights for the arena portion in 2000. Its debut marked a significant modernization of athletic facilities at Ohio State University, coinciding with the resurgence of the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball program under coach Jim O'Brien.

Design and features

Designed by the architectural firm NBBJ, with structural engineering by Thornton Tomasetti, the arena's exterior utilizes brick and pre-cast concrete to blend with the traditional Georgian architecture of the Ohio State University campus. The interior features a symmetrical, bowl-style design that provides clear sightlines from all 18,809 seats for basketball. A key innovation was the inclusion of a dedicated ice plant and dasher board system, allowing efficient conversion for Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey games. Other notable features include 56 luxury suites, the Lexus Lounge club area, and a massive center-hung scoreboard with video displays. The adjacent Schottenstein Center concourse houses extensive concession stands and displays honoring Ohio State Buckeyes athletics history.

Events

Beyond collegiate athletics, the venue has hosted major events including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds multiple times, the NCAA Women's Final Four in 2018, and the Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament. It is a regular stop for major concert tours by artists such as Elton John, Taylor Swift, U2, and Beyoncé, promoted by companies like Live Nation. The arena has also been the site for large-scale family shows like Disney on Ice, commencement ceremonies for Ohio State University, and political rallies for figures including President Barack Obama.

Tenants

The primary tenants are the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference. The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team, coached by Chris Holtmann, has called the arena home since 1998. The Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team, under coaches like Jim Foster and Kevin McGuff, also plays its home schedule there. Furthermore, the Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey team, a member of the Big Ten in hockey, utilizes the facility, sharing it with the basketball programs through the innovative conversion system. No professional sports team has been a permanent tenant.

Management and operations

The arena and the broader Jerome Schottenstein Center are owned and operated by Ohio State University through its Department of Athletics. Day-to-day management falls under the jurisdiction of the university's event staff and athletic administration, with oversight from the Vice President for Athletics. Key operational partners include Aramark for concessions and catering and Securitas for security services. The naming rights agreement with Value City Furniture, a subsidiary of American Signature, Inc., is a significant source of external revenue, alongside suite leases, ticket sales, and hosting fees from promoters like AEG Presents.

The arena has appeared in several films and television productions, often standing in for a generic major sports venue. It was featured prominently in the 2006 sports drama *Glory Road*, which depicted the 1966 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship, though the actual game was played at Cole Field House. The facility has also been used for scenes in episodes of the television series *Glee* and has been referenced in the broadcasts of ESPN's College GameDay and CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Its distinctive architecture is a recognizable landmark in the Columbus, Ohio skyline.

Category:Basketball venues in Ohio Category:NCAA Division I basketball venues Category:Ice hockey venues in Ohio Category:Ohio State University