Schottenstien Center advice
Ladies and gents, I just scored some tickets (thanks Vettix!) to see our men on ice play at OSU on December 10th. I'll be taking my 8yo son. The only hockey I've ever attended was the old IHL team in Cleveland years ago and he's never even seen more than 10 minutes of hockey on TV. What's your best advice for the Schottenstien Center and for a college hockey match? Thanks, and Go Blue!
November 11th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
What's your best advice for the Schottenstien Center
Boo and scowl at everything in sight. The building, the campus, the old lady wearing a buckeye necklace. Everything and anything Ohio State related deserves the full depths of your discontent.
November 11th, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
I supposed I should have noted that those things are a given.
November 11th, 2021 at 5:45 PM ^
That old lady sat behind me! It was at the he-was-short game, and she swore like a sailor at the Michigan players 9-10 rows down front of us.
Until I asked her—politely—to refrain from hitting me, and then she got sweet as pie. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was I hitting you? I apologize."
As I write her words, I realize it might seem she was being sarcastic. Nope. Genuinely sweet and sincere.
Then it was back to "Fuck you, assholes!" and other words not quite as nice.
November 11th, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
Also, it’s a bit inconvenient but urinals are located at center ice. Drink up.
November 11th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^
All these things.
November 11th, 2021 at 4:42 PM ^
Also, I'm not sure how I missed the spelling of Schottenstein twice. I swear I fixed it.
November 12th, 2021 at 9:01 AM ^
Living in Columbus, I've been to numerous Michigan-OSU hockey games. I've never had a problem with opposing fans or anything. Try parking at the old St. John arena, its been free to park in the last 3-4 times I've gone and its a short walk across the bridge. Could also get some pizza/beer from Varsity Inn that is across the street.
November 12th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
+1 Columbus resident here.
I've been to quite a few games with my wife and son, but never a UM game. I can say that a couple of years ago we went to see them against Penn State, and the Penn State fans were louder and more obnoxious that the OSU fans. OSU hockey fans--for however many there are--seem to be a bit more chill. Maybe it's changed post-COVID, but we always went and it was a lot of families, and really a lot of empty seats. It used to be that about 10 minutes into the first period they'd come on the PA and basically say, "OK, feel free to move down as close as you want to the glass, people!"
November 12th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
Yep. Thats about what it is every time I've gone. Laid back, mostly families, not a ton of people there. Theres typically quite a bit of Michigan fans there (probably much like myself who make a point to catch Michigan when they are in town).
November 11th, 2021 at 4:54 PM ^
Schottenstien - Schottenstein
November 11th, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
It's not "Schoenstein"?
November 11th, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
If this is his first game - the goal ( no pun intended) should be to just have fun. Remember that you are not obligated to closely follow the puck everywhere. It is fun (and educational) to occasionally take a step back and watch the plays develop from a "zoomed out" perspective - watch what is happening away from the puck.
Source: born and raised in western Canada
November 11th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
Great advice from SB about perspective
Don’t attempt to explain the rules (unless he asks). Encourage him to appreciate the speed and skill of the players. Buy him something from the concession stand. Warn him about loud noises (pucks & players hitting the glass, horn for goals, etc) so he’s prepared
source: dad who raised two young men to play into their 20’s who’s envious of your upcoming game
November 11th, 2021 at 5:46 PM ^
Good news about the rules...I don't know any. ?
November 11th, 2021 at 6:00 PM ^
Which mans your son will surely ask ;
0
November 12th, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^
The hardest one--at first--for my wife and son to grasp as we started going to games is: what is offside? My son, when he was 6 or so and we first went to a game, couldn't figure out why so many times guys would leave the zone only to turn around and skate back in. "Why don't they just go after the puck?" or "Why is that one guys just holding the puck when he has a teammate down by the goal?"
(Short answer: on offense, the puck has the be the first thing all the way across the blue line. If the defense gets it back across the blue line, all of the offense's players have to leave the attack zone and re-enter, after the puck has re-entered.)
November 12th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
It is fun (and educational) to occasionally take a step back and watch the plays develop from a "zoomed out" perspective - watch what is happening away from the puck.
I co-sign to this. As someone who (very poorly) plays beer league hockey, my favorite seats at an NHL game are top of the lower bowl behind one of the goals. Watching the breakouts and the way guys set things up and move without the puck... I mean, I have a general idea from watching a ton of hockey and loosely playing the sport where guys should be going on the ice, but watching high-level college and pro guys do it from that end-of-the-rink angle--almost like an all-22 in football--really helped me understand the game better and learn why the players do what they do.
source: trash beer league player with a 9-yo son, trying to teach him to follow the game
November 11th, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
maybe be forewarned that they keep more than cold beer in their coolers?
November 11th, 2021 at 5:23 PM ^
I've been as an opposing fan several times (ay-ziggy-zoomba). Parking is easy (dedicated lot) and the upper deck is typically curtained off. They recently renovated the concourse areas: Never lines for bathrooms and the concession lines are short. The ushers are old and take their jobs very seriously (just like the big house).
Expect the marching band to perform script ohio at halftime.
Off topic, the arena is easily 2x too big for basketball and 4x too big for hockey. The atmosphere is garbage. With another prostyle arena 3 miles down the road (that they share bookings with) I fully expect OSU donors to right-size this facility in the next decade.
November 11th, 2021 at 7:09 PM ^
AFW already admitted he didn't know the rules of hockey. To make him wait around for halftime is just cruel.
November 12th, 2021 at 9:38 AM ^
To your off-topic point, back when Columbus was trying to get their NHL team and OSU was in the midst of Andy Geiger's spend-a-palooza to get all new facilities (everything in that arena area was all built around the same time, also right when they expanded the Horseshoe), the NHL owners group tried to partner with OSU to build a joint arena. OSU balked because they felt like they ran Columbus and their isht didn't stink, and so the NHL people got private funding from Nationwide...
...and built their own arena that, even 20 years old now, still completely blows the Schott out of the water every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I've seen hockey in both, concerts and events in both, and Nationwide Arena is 10 times the atmosphere and positive game experience of the Schott. The Schott is an absolute barn.
November 11th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
- Make sure to wear a hat. When Matty Beniers or Kent Johnson score their 3rd goal, throw it on the ice
- Go early for warm ups - like an hour before puck drop. Bring the kid down next to the ice where M is warming up. One of the players will lob a puck over the glass for him.
- This is just me, but get some concessions- if a chipwich is available, jump on it!
- If you see/hear an 'offsides' guy (you'll know him when you hear him) throw popcorn at him. There's always one.
- Heckle the goalie if you're in earshot.
November 12th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
If you see/hear an 'offsides' guy (you'll know him when you hear him) throw popcorn at him. There's always one.
I feel attacked
November 11th, 2021 at 5:40 PM ^
Wear a rubber.
November 11th, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
Watch the person who has the puck, just like in basketball or football. In my experience people new to the game try to follow the puck around for some reason and get lost because it moves too fast.
November 11th, 2021 at 7:29 PM ^
It’s considered good form in college hockey, unlike the NHL, for you to announce/do the play by play from your seat. People should be able to hear you from 10 feet away but not 25 feet away. It’s part of the charm.
November 11th, 2021 at 7:33 PM ^
Let’s get the name right: it’s Value City Arena!
November 12th, 2021 at 12:01 AM ^
the namesake mega store was where we bought the tweedy recliner my grandfather expired in during Price is Right....
November 12th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
TBF, it's both. It's Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Everyone here in Columbus just calls it "The Schott".
November 11th, 2021 at 7:49 PM ^
Logistically, the Schott is pretty easy for hockey. Its right off the highway, copious parking near the stadium, hockey games are never crowded so its easy to get in and around. But it is a sterile atmosphere even when the home team beats the good guys. It would not surprise me if you get to choose where you sit because most of the seats will be empty.
November 11th, 2021 at 7:56 PM ^
That's exciting! First advice, of course, is to have fun.
The Schott isn't especially charming or well-designed for the sort of event that OSU hockey is, but it's not actually a bad arena. It won't be crowded, but the seats will be comfortable enough, and as long as you're not a jerk to OSU fans, almost all of them will probably be fine with you.
I echo the advice of others. I've taken kids to a few road games and it's a lot of fun; focusing on the experience as much as the game on the ice is important. I'll particularly agree with the advice about pregame: go to the glass for the whole warmup.
If you're wearing Michigan gear a few will definitely acknowledge you guys. Brendan Brisson kept punching the glass as a fist bump at us in Duluth, for example. I can't guarantee that you'll get flipped a puck, but you might, and two of my kids have gotten pucks this way.
If you have access to where they enter and leave the ice, they'll also do high fives and fist bumps there.
Then, settle in and enjoy the game. 8 years old isn't bad; as others say, he might not follow the action all the time, but he can in a general way and it might help to highlight a player number or two to cheer for. Kind of tough with the way the team is loaded this season, but picking out a couple guys and watching for them can help.
Buy an enjoyable snack to share, like popcorn. It's an essential sensory experience.
The whole thing is an experience, an event. Something to share that you'll remember forever.
Make a memory to treasure together.
November 11th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
wasn't that Eric Stratton's sidekick in Animal House?
November 11th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
That may be the night we're there. It's not a bad arena. Not great arena, though. It's tight if you're in the chairs, sight lines are pretty good. Parking isn't a problem, generally, however you may have to walk a couple blocks. I think we generally park a little NW of the arena and walk past the baseball stadium to the arena. Last time we were there (they've all been Michigan games) it was moderately full, but they section off a bunch of the arena for hockey so it's never too crazy.
November 12th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^
crappy venue