Schottenstein Center

Schottenstein Center
JonRidinger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Schottenstein Center
Location	Columbus, Ohio
Opened	1998
Owner	The Ohio State University
Operator	The Ohio State University
Capacity	19,500

Schottenstein Center The Schottenstein Center is a multi-purpose arena and convocation facility located in Columbus, Ohio on the campus of The Ohio State University. It serves as a venue for college basketball, ice hockey, concert tours, commencement exercises, and political rallys, and has hosted performers, teams, and events from across the United States and internationally. The arena is associated with athletic programs, entertainment promoters, and university administration, and sits near other campus landmarks and transportation hubs.

History

Construction of the arena began in the mid-1990s following fundraising efforts involving donors, trustees, and alumni associated with The Ohio State University and was completed in time for the 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament season. The naming recognized benefactors linked to regional businesses and philanthropic foundations with ties to Columbus, Ohio civic institutions. Early years featured opening events that attracted programs such as Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes ice hockey, and touring productions coordinated by promoters like Live Nation and AEG Presents. Over time the facility hosted major collegiate championships, entertainment residencies, and national televised events including segments related to ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and special broadcasts connected to March Madness and other postseason tournaments. The venue has undergone renovations and technology upgrades inspired by trends at arenas like Madison Square Garden, United Center, TD Garden, and Staples Center to improve patron amenities and broadcast capabilities.

Architecture and design

The arena's design reflects influences from contemporary arena projects and collegiate campus aesthetics, integrating steel framing, curtain wall glazing, and pre-cast concrete similar to components used at arenas such as Cox Arena and Rupp Arena. Architectural firms, consultants, and engineering teams coordinated HVAC, acoustics, and sightlines to accommodate basketball and ice rink configurations, drawing on acoustic treatments used at venues like Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall for concert performance quality. Interior spaces include luxury suites, club lounges, and press facilities modeled after premium seating concepts pioneered at AT&T Stadium, MetLife Stadium, and Oracle Arena. Exterior plaza areas connect to campus walkways, campus transit stops, and parking structures near Ohio Stadium and St. John Arena, creating a sports-and-entertainment district that engages visitors and university stakeholders.

Facilities and amenities

The venue houses a bowl seating arrangement with retractable seating to allow conversion between basketball and ice hockey footprints, plus floor configurations for concert and stage productions by artists associated with touring circuits. Luxury suites, club suites, and loge boxes provide premium experiences similar to offerings at Barclays Center, Wells Fargo Center, and Amalie Arena. Back-of-house facilities include dressing rooms used by touring acts like Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and ensemble casts from productions tied to producers such as Cirque du Soleil and Disney Theatrical Group. Technology infrastructure supports broadcast crews from networks like FOX Sports, ABC, CNN, and streaming partners such as YouTube and subscription services. Food and beverage concessions feature branded partners often found in stadiums across North America, while ticketing operations coordinate with primary sellers including Ticketmaster and secondary markets like StubHub for high-demand events.

Events and tenants

Primary athletic tenants have included the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team and the Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team, as well as occasional college ice hockey events and professional exhibition contests. The arena has hosted major concerts by artists such as U2, Madonna, Adele, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Drake, Kanye West, Metallica, Rihanna, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink, Billy Joel, Elton John, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, OneRepublic, Shakira, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Bruno Mars, Celine Dion, Cher, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift (on past tours), and BTS during international pop tours. It has also accommodated comedy tours featuring performers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, and Kevin Hart, family shows like Disney On Ice, and political events with figures who have appeared at university venues. Annual and one-off events have included high school graduations, trade shows organized by regional chambers such as the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, university commencements administered by The Ohio State University, and intra-university ceremonies tied to colleges like the Fisher College of Business.

Transportation and access

The arena is accessible via campus transit services operated by The Ohio State University and municipal transit provided by the Central Ohio Transit Authority. Vehicular access connects to major regional routes including Interstate 71, Ohio State Route 315, and surface arteries serving Columbus, Ohio. Parking structures near Ohio Stadium and adjacent surface lots are managed in coordination with university parking services and event-day operations. Riders using regional rail or bus services may transfer at hubs linking to John Glenn Columbus International Airport and regional intercity bus lines. Pedestrian connections link the facility to campus landmarks such as Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, Thompson Library, and student residential areas, while ride-share staging and taxi zones coordinate with city permits and public safety agencies during large events.

Category:Sports venues in Columbus, Ohio Category:Ohio State Buckeyes basketball