Roadside assistance by Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc in Columbus, Ohio
Events & Places

Schottenstein Center Towing for Games, Concerts and Graduations

Car dead in a Scarlet or Buckeye lot after a late show? We handle jump starts, lockouts and tows around the arena, day or night.

Call (740) 812-9489

Schottenstein Center towing calls tend to come at night, after the lights go down on a basketball game, a hockey game, a concert or a commencement ceremony at 555 Borror Drive. The arena, officially Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, sits on the west side of Ohio State's campus just off SR-315, and its surrounding lots empty all at once when an event ends. If your car refuses to start, a door will not unlock, or something breaks on the drive out, Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc answers (740) 812-9489 24/7. Most metro calls are reached in 20–40 minutes; treat that as an estimate, especially while event traffic is still moving. We are an independent towing company. We have no relationship with the arena, the university or its parking operator, and we do not park trucks at events.

Call (740) 812-9489 · Request a tow now (SOS) · Get an online quote

Knowing which lot you are in

The arena says more than 10,000 garage and surface spaces are within walking distance, which makes a precise location important when you call. The Scarlet Lots run along Borror Drive right beside the building and hold disability parking, while the larger Buckeye Lots sit off Ackerman Road, where complimentary shuttles sometimes run for big crowds. Parking is cashless, lots usually open two hours before doors, and many events offer prepaid parking through CampusParc's ParkMobile page.

Rideshare pickup and drop-off happen on the north side of Borror Drive, although staff may send post-event pickups toward the St. John Arena area instead. Knowing that helps if a friend is coming to get you while you wait for us.

  • Say Scarlet or Buckeye lot, or name the garage
  • Give the row letter or nearest light pole
  • Mention which road you entered from: Borror, Ackerman or Fred Taylor Drive

Event-night traffic around the arena

The venue's own directions steer drivers from SR-315 to the Ackerman Road exit and then onto Fred Taylor Drive, with Medical Center Drive, North Broadway and Kinnear Road as alternatives. It specifically advises avoiding Lane Avenue during events. Our trucks follow the same guidance, so if you call as a sellout crowd is leaving, expect us to arrive from the Ackerman side once the lots start to drain.

If the car runs but a warning light or noise worries you, it is usually better to pull into a quieter part of the lot and call than to merge onto SR-315 in heavy traffic. When a tow is needed, our emergency towing crews can take the car to your home or shop.

Winter nights and cold batteries

Basketball and hockey seasons run through the coldest months, and three hours parked in a freezing lot is often the last straw for a weak battery. Every jump start includes a test with a printed report, and a failing battery can be swapped in the lot with mobile battery replacement. Locked out in the cold? Our lockout service gets you back inside without breaking glass. Jump starts, lockouts and tire changes are $75 flat plus a $4-per-mile en-route charge; late calls between 10 PM and 6 AM carry the $150 after-hours charge listed on the rate card.

EV owners: if the car is completely dead, we give the 12V system a jump so it can shift into transport mode, and then EV towing keeps all four wheels off the ground.

Schottenstein Center: common questions

Frequently asked questions

Who can I call for Schottenstein Center towing after a late concert?

Call Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc at (740) 812-9489. Dispatch works 24/7, including late nights after shows. Tell us whether you are in a Scarlet or Buckeye lot or a garage, and the row. A tow costs $4 a mile en-route, a $125 hook-up and $7 per loaded mile, plus $150 if the call falls between 10 PM and 6 AM.

Which way will the tow truck come in during an event?

The arena recommends reaching it from SR-315 at the Ackerman Road exit and then Fred Taylor Drive, and it asks drivers to stay off Lane Avenue during events. Our drivers use the same approach. If traffic is still heavy, it helps to tell us the nearest lot entrance so we can reach you without joining the exit line.

My battery died in the cold during a hockey game. Do I need a tow?

Usually not. Cold weather exposes weak batteries, and a jump start is often enough to get you home. We test the battery and print a report so you know its condition. If it will not hold a charge, we can install a new battery right in the lot, which is often cheaper and faster than towing to a shop.

Can you help during a graduation ceremony at the arena?

Yes. Ohio State holds commencement ceremonies at the Schottenstein Center, and families parked in the surrounding lots sometimes return to a dead battery, a flat or keys locked inside. Call us with the lot name and your vehicle description. We cannot enter restricted areas, but we can reach any public lot or garage around the building.

Where do I get picked up if I leave my car and take a ride home?

The arena lists rideshare pickup on the north side of Borror Drive, and it may direct post-event pickups toward the St. John Arena area. If you plan to leave a disabled car overnight, check the posted lot rules first, and consider booking a tow so the car is not left in a lot that must be cleared.

Is your company connected to the Schottenstein Center?

No. We are an independent towing company with no contract, sponsorship or staging arrangement with the arena, Ohio State or CampusParc. Questions about parking passes, lot hours or lost items belong with the venue box office or CampusParc. We only step in when a driver calls us directly for help with their own vehicle.

Related help

Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc is an independent towing company and is not affiliated with The Ohio State University, the Schottenstein Center, Value City Arena or CampusParc.

Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc (dba Columbus Roadside Towing).
Corporate office (private, no walk-ins): 3879 Regatta Ct, Lewis Center, OH 43035
Tow yard & impound lot: 1620 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
(740) 812-9489 · chris@columbusroadsidetowing.com

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