Stadiums, arenas & big events
Schottenstein Center Towing for Concert and Game Nights
Winter basketball, hockey and big-name shows at Value City Arena mean cold lots and late exits. We answer at any hour if your car won't go home with you.
- Open 24/7, 365 days
- Flatbed-only fleet
- Price quoted before dispatch
- Licensed & insured
The Schottenstein Center opened on Ohio State's west campus in 1998, and its main bowl, Value City Arena, keeps a busy calendar of Buckeyes basketball, hockey, concerts and touring shows. Unlike football, most of those events happen at night and many of them fall between November and March. Put those two facts together and you get the most common Schottenstein Center towing call we see: a car that sat in a cold lot for three hours and now only clicks.
We keep four flatbed carriers on the road from our Harrisburg Pike base, and the trip up to the Lane Avenue and SR-315 corner is direct once the event traffic thins out. Every unit carries jump packs and lockout tools, so plenty of these calls end with you driving away under your own power rather than riding in the truck cab.
When the problem is bigger, such as a failed alternator, a seized brake or a car that will not shift out of park, the driver loads it on the deck and takes it wherever you choose. That might be your driveway, your usual mechanic, or an independent shop we work with that will diagnose it and call you with a quote before touching anything.
Cold lots, late exits
A battery loses a good share of its starting power in freezing weather, and an arena show can easily last three or four hours once you count the opener and the walk back. Cars that started fine at 7 PM can be dead at 11. Headlights left on, a door not fully shut or a phone charger left plugged in will finish off a weak battery even faster.
If the engine cranks slowly or you hear rapid clicking, try once more and then stop. Grinding away on the starter for minutes does not help and can make things worse. Call us, leave the hazards on if you are in a travel lane, and wait somewhere warm while the truck is on its way.
Getting the driver to the right row
The arena sits in a cluster of Ohio State athletic buildings, surface lots and garages near the Olentangy River, and on an event night they all look alike in the dark. Before you call, look for a lot sign or letter, the nearest building name, and which direction the arena entrance is from you.
- Say whether you are in a surface lot or a parking structure, and which level.
- Mention the nearest street you can read, such as Lane Avenue or Olentangy River Road.
- Describe the car by color, make and anything distinctive, like a roof rack or a bumper sticker.
- Keep your phone on and the ringer up so the driver can call when they pull in.
When a jump is not the fix
If the car starts with a jump but dies again within a few minutes, the alternator is the likely culprit, and driving it home is a gamble. The same goes for a battery that is cracked, leaking or more than several years old. In those cases our driver will recommend a battery replacement or a tow rather than sending you onto SR-315 with a car that may quit at highway speed.
Pricing follows our rate card. Roadside service is $75 flat, a tow is $125 to hook up plus $7 for each loaded mile, and either one adds $4 a mile for our trip out. Late shows that run past 10 PM fall under the overnight fee, and the dispatcher includes it in the quote so nothing is a surprise.
Schottenstein Center: what drivers ask
How does Schottenstein Center towing work after a late concert?
Call (614) 633-8163 as soon as you know the car is not going to start. The dispatcher takes your location, describes the price including the overnight fee if it is after 10 PM, and sends the nearest flatbed. Most post-show calls turn out to be dead batteries, so the driver will try a jump first. If that does not work, we tow the car where you want it.
Can you replace my battery right there in the arena lot?
Often, yes. If the driver tests the battery and it has clearly failed, many common vehicles can get a fresh one fitted right there in the lot. Some cars have batteries under seats or in the trunk with special fittings, and a few need a computer reset afterward. In those cases a tow to a shop is the safer choice. Ask the dispatcher when you call.
I left my keys in the car at a Buckeyes basketball game. What now?
Do not break a window. Call us, tell us the lot and level, and have your ID ready. Our driver uses wedge and reach tools made for modern doors, which open most cars without a scratch. If your key fob is inside and the car has a push-button start, the car will start normally once the door is open.
Do you tow from the parking garages near Value City Arena?
We do when the garage clearance allows it. Some structures are too low for a flatbed carrier, which needs headroom to tilt its deck. If that is the case, we can usually get the car running with a jump or a tire change so you can drive it to the street. Tell us the garage name or entrance and the level when you call.
Is it safe to wait in my car until the truck arrives?
If you are parked in a lot and out of moving traffic, waiting in the car is usually fine, especially in winter. Keep the doors locked and the hazards on. If the car will not run at all and it is very cold, it may be better to wait inside a nearby building or a friend's car. We will call you when the driver is close.
Can you take my car to my own mechanic instead of a random shop?
Yes, you choose the destination. We tow to home addresses, dealerships and independent shops all over central Ohio. If your mechanic is closed for the night, we can bring the car to our yard on Harrisburg Pike and deliver it in the morning, or drop it at the shop with the keys in a night drop box if they have one.
What will a tow from the Schott to Upper Arlington cost?
It depends on the exact addresses and the time of night. The formula is a $125 hook-up, $7 for every mile the car is loaded and $4 a mile for our drive to you, plus a $150 overnight fee if it is between 10 PM and 6 AM. The dispatcher works out the exact figure with you before sending a truck.
My car started after the jump. Should I still get it checked?
Yes. A battery that dies once at a cold arena lot often dies again the next cold morning. Have the battery and charging system tested at a parts store or shop within a day or two. If the battery is fine, the alternator may be weak, and that is better found in your driveway than on the freeway.
Car won't go?
One call: your spot in Jerome Schottenstein Center, your vehicle, your destination. We price it on the spot.
Nearby towns
Auto Lyft USA is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Ohio State University, the Schottenstein Center or Value City Arena.
Where the trucks start
The flatbeds that cover Jerome Schottenstein Center are based on Harrisburg Pike (US-62) on Columbus's southwest side, and the phone is answered around the clock, 365 days a year.
1620 Harrisburg Pike
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 633-8163
Email: lisa@autolyftusa.online
Directions to the yard