Rent a Bus to Schottenstein Center: The Complete Schottenstein Center Transportation Guide

If you've ever watched your Uber app redirect your post-concert pickup from Borror Drive all the way down Lane Avenue to St. John Arena — while your group is already at the wrong end of the building, coats on, ready to go — you understand exactly what this guide is about. The Jerome Schottenstein Center at 555 Borror Drive, Columbus, OH 43210 is the largest arena in the Big Ten, seating 19,500 for Ohio State basketball, 17,500 for Buckeyes ice hockey, and more than 20,000 for concerts. It's also on a corner of OSU's northwest campus where the nearby lots and garages fill fast on sold-out nights, the SR-315 Ackerman Road exit backs up well before tip-off, and the post-event rideshare system pushes pickups to a different arena entirely — none of which makes things easier when you're moving a group of 25 or 40 people through it all.

One Columbus charter bus or party bus rental solves most of those problems in one move. Your group drops curbside on Borror Drive while everyone else is circling for a parking space, and the bus stages nearby until the final horn — no geofenced rideshare redirect, no carpool coordinator, no one drawing straws for who sits out. Partybusescolumbus.com makes it easy to compare party buses, minibuses, and charter buses from a large network of bus companies serving Columbus, with pricing in under 30 seconds online or by calling 614-591-0565.

Why Rent a Bus to the Schottenstein Center?

Group transportation to the Schottenstein Center earns its keep before the event even starts. The arena sits on OSU's northwest campus, hemmed in between Olentangy River Road to the west and the main campus grid to the east, with approach roads that funnel all arriving traffic through a narrow corridor. The Scarlet Lots along Borror Drive hold the venue's disability parking, and the closest general lots and garages near the arena — over 10,000 spaces within walking distance in total — fill fast for sold-out events.

The Buckeye Lots off Ackerman Road hold 2,420 more spaces but add a five- to ten-minute walk each way, and the complimentary shuttle between those lots and the arena runs for some larger events but does not run for most.

Then there's the post-event rideshare situation. The venue's own A-Z Guide confirms that after events, Uber and Lyft activate a geofence directing pickups away from Borror Drive to St. John Arena on Lane Avenue — the former home of Ohio State basketball, roughly a four- to six-minute walk away. That redirect is not optional; it is a deliberate traffic management measure, and it surprises nearly every first-time visitor.

A private Columbus party bus or charter bus rental sidesteps it entirely: your group exits the arena, walks to Borror Drive, and the bus is there. That's it. See the Columbus sporting event transportation page for the broader picture on group Buckeyes travel.

Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at the Schottenstein Center

All passenger drop-offs — personal vehicles, rideshare, and private buses — use Borror Drive along the north side of the building, per the official Schottenstein Center directions and parking page. Police and traffic staff are stationed on Borror Drive during events and will direct your bus to the appropriate curbside position. Vehicles traveling south on Olentangy River Road can access a dedicated traffic loop for drop-offs without entering the main lot — the most efficient approach for a large vehicle that doesn't need to park.

The part that catches groups off guard happens after the event. Per the venue's A-Z Guide, post-event rideshare pickups are routed by geofence to St. John Arena on Lane Avenue, not to Borror Drive. Lyft users may be able to drag the map pin back to Borror Drive manually, but the redirect is the default and it does not always override.

For a group of 30 people in January after an Ohio State hockey game, that extra walk in the dark matters. A party bus staged on the north side of the arena means your group walks straight out the door and onto the vehicle — no Lane Avenue detour, no regrouping at a different building.

Getting to the Schottenstein Center: SR-315, Ackerman Road, and the Routes to Know

State Route 315 is the primary highway serving this corner of OSU's campus, and the exit that makes the most sense for the Schottenstein Center is Exit 5 at Ackerman Road — not the Lane Avenue exit that most GPS systems suggest when a destination reads "Ohio State University." The venue's official directions page explicitly recommends the Ackerman Road approach, with alternate routes via Olentangy River Road, Medical Center Drive, North Broadway, and Kinnear Road available when Ackerman backs up during heavy event traffic. The Lane Avenue exit from SR-315 serves both the arena and Ohio Stadium, which means on any night when those venues run simultaneously, it is already backed up onto the highway before you reach it.

From I-71 South (approaching from Cleveland or northeast Columbus), the typical path is I-270 West to SR-315 South, then Exit 5 at Ackerman Road — turn left, go under the bridge, and right on Fred Taylor Drive toward the arena complex. From downtown Columbus or the Short North, SR-315 North carries you directly to Exit 5 in under 15 minutes off-peak. From the east (I-70 approaching from Pittsburgh or the east side), the SR-315 North exit puts you on the same approach.

From John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the standard path is I-670 West to I-71 North to SR-315 North — roughly 25 minutes to the arena without event-night traffic. The CMH airport shuttle guide covers group airport runs in Columbus in more detail, and the Columbus airport transportation page is the starting point for groups flying in.

On big event nights, the SR-315 corridor itself slows from the Ackerman exit south. The Olentangy River Road approach from the north or west is a useful alternative when 315 is heavy: take Olentangy River Road southbound to Borror Drive and follow the traffic loop for drop-off on the north side of the building. For a bus, this south-on-Olentangy approach is often the cleanest line in, since it avoids the exit-ramp bottleneck entirely and feeds directly into the Borror Drive drop-off zone.

Schottenstein Center Parking: Scarlet Lots, Buckeye Lots, and What Your Group Needs to Know

There are over 10,000 parking spaces within walking distance of the Schottenstein Center, but "within walking distance" covers a wide range — from the lots immediately adjacent to Borror Drive to surface lots south of Lane Avenue near St. John Arena and Ohio Stadium. All parking at the Schottenstein Center is cashless: credit and debit cards and smartphone payments only, no cash, no exceptions. Lots typically open two hours before event doors.

The Scarlet Lots along Borror Drive, directly adjacent to the arena's north and east sides, hold the venue's disability parking and are where the wheelchair-accessible shuttle stages (running from two hours before the event through 30 minutes after). General parking is available in the surface lots and garages surrounding the arena, with pre-purchase available before most events through CampusParc's event parking system via ParkMobile. Parking rates vary by event — third-party data puts the average in the $15–$40 range depending on the event, with higher-demand dates at the top of that range — and the CampusParc portal shows the specific price for your date at the time of purchase.

The closest lots fill for sold-out events well before doors open, so pre-purchase is strongly recommended.

The Buckeye Lots at 2701 Fred Taylor Drive, off Ackerman Road, hold 2,420 spaces and are the next tier out. Per the CampusParc Buckeye Lot page, visitor access is available at all times at a standard rate of $3.00 per hour, with event-specific pricing set separately through CampusParc for game days and concerts. A complimentary shuttle connects the Buckeye Lots to the arena for some larger events — but it does not run for most events, and the walk from Fred Taylor Drive to the arena is five to ten minutes each way.

Confirm the shuttle status on the official event page before you count on it.

For any group larger than two or three cars, the parking math tips quickly. Each car arriving separately needs its own pre-purchased pass, its own lot assignment, and its own post-event exit strategy through the same SR-315 crawl. A 40–56 passenger charter bus drops the whole group at Borror Drive, stages nearby during the event, and rolls out on a single, predetermined arrangement — no per-car lot fees, no multiple parking receipts, no scattered egress.

We recommend checking the official CampusParc event parking page for current pricing and lot availability before your visit.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for the Schottenstein Center?

The Schottenstein Center draws everything from small office groups going to a hockey game to 50-person fan club road trips for Buckeyes-Michigan night. Partybusescolumbus.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Columbus, with a range of vehicle types so you match the bus to the actual headcount. Here's how the full vehicle lineup breaks down for a Schottenstein Center run:

For Ohio State basketball and hockey nights, a 30- or 40-passenger party bus is one of the most common fits — large enough for a solid group, with the LED lighting and sound to carry the energy from pickup to Borror Drive. For family events like ice shows or holiday productions, a minibus keeps costs lower and handles the group without paying for seats nobody needs. For large school groups or company-wide outings, a full charter bus provides the undercarriage bays for gear and bags, plus the onboard restroom that makes a longer event day manageable.

ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note it in your quote request and the right vehicle can be arranged.

Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices for a Schottenstein Center Trip

Columbus party bus and charter bus rental prices for a Schottenstein Center run depend on vehicle type, total hours, the specific date, and mileage from your pickup location. To give you a planning range: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 on weekends; a 25-passenger party bus generally falls in the $250–$350 range on weekdays and $275–$375 on weekend nights; a full charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour. Real quotes move with your specific date, demand, and the route — these are planning ranges to give you an idea, not a guarantee.

Call 614-591-0565 or use the quick online form and you can see pricing in under 30 seconds.

The per-person math often makes the bus a straightforward call. A 40-person group splitting a 40-passenger party bus for a five-hour Ohio State basketball event — pickup from downtown Columbus, drop at Borror Drive, pickup after the final buzzer — might come to $75–$90 per person at typical weekend rates. That figure replaces individual parking passes for each car in the caravan, eliminates the multiple-stop carpool logistics, and means nobody in your group gets stuck making the post-game Lane Avenue walk alone.

Check the Columbus party bus prices page for a full breakdown by vehicle type, or call 614-591-0565 any time for a free quote at no obligation.

Ohio State Basketball, Hockey, and Concerts: When the Schottenstein Center Gets Packed

The Schottenstein Center runs essentially year-round — Ohio State athletics from October through March, then concerts and touring productions through spring and summer. The high-demand windows where Columbus bus supply tightens and advance booking matters most:

Ohio State men's basketball runs November through the Big Ten Tournament in March, with home games against Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin consistently selling out Value City Arena's 19,500 seats. Those Big Ten rivalry nights are the single highest-demand Schottenstein Center dates for group transportation — the closest lots fill before halftime warmups are over, the Ackerman Road exit backs onto SR-315 in the final hour before tip-off, and post-game the arena empties 19,000 people into the same corridor simultaneously. A Columbus sporting event bus rental is the simplest way to keep your group together through all of it.

For Buckeyes-Michigan and other marquee Big Ten home games, book eight to twelve weeks out.

Ohio State women's basketball also plays at the Schottenstein Center through the season, drawing strong crowds especially when ranked conference opponents visit. Ohio State men's ice hockey runs October through February, with the Big Ten Tournament typically in March. Hockey nights carry their own post-game traffic pattern — the arena still empties into the SR-315 funnel, but the crowd and event timing are slightly different from basketball.

For an ice hockey group, a 30-passenger party bus or minibus sized to the actual headcount keeps costs manageable while handling the logistics cleanly.

Concerts and touring productions fill the Schottenstein Center across all seasons. The fall 2026 lineup at the arena includes Kacey Musgraves (September 9), Thomas Rhett (September 11), Lionel Richie & Earth, Wind & Fire (October 2), and Rod Wave (October 22), among others — see the official events calendar for the complete and current schedule. Concert nights are when the Lane Avenue and SR-315 corridor hits its worst gridlock, since arena traffic combines with surrounding campus and neighborhood traffic at the same exit ramps.

For any major arena-level show, book your Columbus concert bus rental as soon as your group's tickets are confirmed.

Family events and touring productions — Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros., and similar shows — run through fall and winter and are among the most common school group requests at the venue. For those groups, the Columbus school event bus rental page covers group transportation and ADA accommodations in more detail.

Schottenstein Center Transportation Options: Charter Bus vs. Rideshare vs. Driving

Partybusescolumbus.com is a comparison website, and that means being honest about the realistic options. A private bus is not the right call for every group — but here is how the real choices stack up for a Schottenstein Center event:

For one or two people, rideshare into Borror Drive is straightforward, and COTA serves the campus corridor from downtown Columbus. Once your group grows past the point where two or three rideshares can move everyone together — and post-event the St. John Arena redirect splits those rideshares further apart — one bus becomes the simpler, more predictable answer. That's who the rest of this guide is written for.

Schottenstein Center Bag Policy: What Your Group Needs to Know Before Arrival

The Schottenstein Center enforces a strict no-bag policy that catches more first-time visitors than almost anything else about the venue. Per the official A-Z Guide: no bags or purses of any size are permitted. The only exception is wallets and wristlets no larger than 5" x 8" x 1" — roughly the size of a standard wallet.

Guests with a legitimate medical, dietary, or childcare need may bring one bag through a dedicated screening lane with appropriate documentation.

For a bus group, this matters in two concrete ways. First, coordinate the bag policy with your group before the event — a member who arrives at the Borror Drive entrance with a regular-size purse will be sent to bag check or turned away, and there is no quick workaround at the door. Second, any gear your group brought stays on the bus in the overhead bins or undercarriage bays — not inside the arena.

A charter bus with undercarriage storage gives you a secure staging area for everything your group cannot carry in. Questions before arrival? The venue phone is 614-688-3939.

Tips for Your Schottenstein Center Group Visit

• Use SR-315 Exit 5 at Ackerman Road, not Lane Avenue. The Lane Avenue exit serves both Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center and backs up onto the highway on event nights. Exit at Ackerman Road, turn left under the bridge, right on Fred Taylor Drive.
• Pre-purchase parking if you are driving. All Schottenstein Center parking is cashless. The closest lots and garages near Borror Drive fill for sold-out events well before doors open. Pre-purchase through CampusParc via ParkMobile for the closest options.
• Arrive two-plus hours before tip-off or showtime for major events. Lots open two hours before event doors. For sold-out Buckeyes games and arena-level concerts, the Ackerman Road approach slows in the final 45 minutes — build that buffer in.
• Brief your whole group on the bag policy before you show up. No bags or purses of any size. Wallets and wristlets up to 5" x 8" x 1" only. This catches first-timers at the Borror Drive entrance — one member turned away slows the whole group.
• Set your post-event bus pickup arrangement before everyone goes in. If your group is on a bus, agree on the Borror Drive staging location and pickup window before the event starts — so everyone knows exactly where to go when the arena empties.
• Confirm the Buckeye Lots shuttle status for your specific event. The complimentary shuttle from the Buckeye Lots on Fred Taylor Drive runs for some larger events and not for others. Check the official event page — do not count on it as a backup plan without verifying first.
• ADA drop-off and the accessible shuttle both use Borror Drive. Disability parking is in the Scarlet Lots along Borror Drive, and the wheelchair-accessible shuttle operates from two hours before the event through 30 minutes after. If anyone in your group needs ADA-accessible vehicle arrangements, note it when requesting your quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at the Schottenstein Center?

All vehicle drop-offs — personal cars, rideshare, and private buses — use Borror Drive along the north side of the building, per the official directions page. Police and traffic staff manage the Borror Drive curbside during events and will direct your bus to the correct position. Vehicles approaching from Olentangy River Road heading south can use a dedicated drop-off traffic loop that bypasses lot traffic entirely.

Where do rideshare vehicles pick up after events at the Schottenstein Center?

After events, Uber and Lyft apps route pickups by geofence to St. John Arena on Lane Avenue — not to Borror Drive where you exited. This is a deliberate traffic management measure documented in the venue's own A-Z Guide. Lyft users may be able to drag the map pin back to Borror Drive, but the St. John Arena redirect is the default.

A private bus staged on the north side of the building bypasses this entirely.

Which exit on SR-315 should I take to the Schottenstein Center?

Exit 5 at Ackerman Road — not Lane Avenue. The Lane Avenue exit serves both the Schottenstein Center and Ohio Stadium, and it backs up significantly on nights when either or both venues have events. From Ackerman Road, turn left, go under the bridge, and turn right on Fred Taylor Drive toward the arena complex.

Olentangy River Road southbound to Borror Drive is a useful alternative when the Ackerman exit ramp slows.

How much does parking cost at the Schottenstein Center?

Parking prices are set per event through CampusParc and vary by event tier. All parking is cashless. Pre-purchase is available through the CampusParc event parking portal and ParkMobile.

Third-party data puts the typical range at $15–$40 per vehicle depending on the event and lot. The Buckeye Lots at 2701 Fred Taylor Drive charge $3.00 per hour in standard operation, with event-specific pricing set separately.

How far in advance should I book a bus to the Schottenstein Center?

For marquee Ohio State basketball games (Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State) and major arena concerts: eight to twelve weeks out. These dates move Columbus bus supply quickly. For regular Big Ten home games and standard event nights, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but earlier always means more vehicle options at better rates.

December holiday events at the Schottenstein Center book especially fast because multiple Columbus venues run simultaneous holiday-season shows.

How far is the Schottenstein Center from downtown Columbus?

About 4–5 miles northwest of downtown Columbus via SR-315. Off-peak, the drive from the Short North or Arena District runs 10–15 minutes. On sold-out Ohio State basketball or concert nights, the SR-315 northbound corridor and Ackerman Road exit can add 30–45 minutes to that estimate in the final hour before tip-off or showtime.

Can I rent a bus from John Glenn Columbus Airport to the Schottenstein Center?

Yes — group airport-to-arena transportation is one of the most common out-of-town requests in Columbus. John Glenn Columbus International Airport to the Schottenstein Center runs about 25–30 minutes via I-670 West and SR-315 North without event-night traffic. See the Columbus airport transportation page and the CMH airport shuttle guide for more detail on group airport pickup logistics.

What vehicles fit a Schottenstein Center group trip?

It depends on headcount and occasion. A 25-passenger party bus works well for friend groups and birthday outings at a basketball or hockey game. A 40-passenger party bus handles larger group nights with the LED lighting and sound to carry the energy.

A minibus is the right fit for mid-size groups, school events, and corporate outings where the goal is efficient group movement rather than a rolling event. A full charter bus serves large school groups, company outings, and any group that needs undercarriage bays for equipment or the onboard restroom for a longer event day.

What is the bag policy at the Schottenstein Center?

No bags or purses of any size are permitted. Wallets and wristlets up to 5" x 8" x 1" are allowed. Guests with a medical, dietary, or childcare need may bring one bag through a dedicated screening lane with documentation.

Brief your full group before the event — members turned away at the Borror Drive entrance for a bag policy violation slow the entire group's entry.

Is the Schottenstein Center the same as Value City Arena?

Yes. The full official name is the Jerome Schottenstein Center, and Value City Arena is the name of the seating bowl inside it. The facility opened in 1998 and is the largest arena in the Big Ten.

As of early 2026, the arena is in the process of securing new naming rights as Value City Furniture winds down operations.

Are ADA-accessible buses available for the Schottenstein Center?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network of bus companies serving Columbus. Note it in your quote request and the appropriate vehicle can be arranged. At the venue, disability parking is in the Scarlet Lots along Borror Drive, and a wheelchair-accessible shuttle operates from two hours before the event through 30 minutes after, connecting outer lots to the arena doors.

Rent a Bus to the Schottenstein Center Today

Whether your group is heading to a sold-out Ohio State-Michigan basketball game in February, a Kacey Musgraves concert in September, or a family ice show on a December weekend, a Columbus charter bus or party bus from Partybusescolumbus.com's network drops your group at Borror Drive and stages for pickup when the event ends — no geofenced rideshare redirect to St. John Arena, no per-car parking coordination through the SR-315 bottleneck, no carpool logistics. Partybusescolumbus.com is just a website, not a bus company, and it doesn't provide the transportation itself — it makes comparing party buses, minibuses, and charter buses from a large network of companies serving Columbus incredibly simple. Fill out the quick online form to see pricing in under 30 seconds, or call 614-591-0565 any time for a free quote with no obligation.

Also planning a Buckeyes football game at Ohio Stadium or a show at Nationwide Arena? Those guides cover their own drop-offs and parking: rent a bus to Ohio Stadium and rent a bus to Nationwide Arena.