New food options part of renovation at Schottenstein Center

The Jerome Schottenstein Center is celebrating a milestone with new food and a brand new look.

The food options and locations are part of a multimillion-dollar renovation to the arena to celebrate the building’s 20th anniversary. The expansion includes relocation of the team shop and a food court where fans can gather to eat before the game or concert.

“If you haven’t been to the Schottenstein Center for a little while to attend an event, you might be surprised when you walk in to see all the changes that we’ve made,” said Molly Kurth, vice president of NCAA operations for Levy Restaurants.

Kurth said most of the renovations were completed at the end of 2018. New concession stands include Fowl Play, serving boneless wings with a variety of sauces, and Sear and Stack, serving gourmet burgers.

“We’ve got our turkey burger and our signature Double Shot Burger, which has been a fan favorite for a couple of seasons, but at Sear and Stack you will be able to get seasonal burgers and we’re going to do a rotating feature of different flavors and profiles for fans to experience,” Kurth said.

There are some unique food options as well. A new 600-pound smoker allows Schottenstein Center chefs to create custom-made brisket sandwiches. Kurth said all of the meat is smoked in-house and the seasoning is a custom recipe.In addition to the food court and new food stands, there are also new options to help fans get their snacks and get back to their seats more quickly. A new grab-and-go area offers drinks and pre-made food, including hummus and vegetable packs and salad shakers as well as candy and caramel corn.

New in 2019 is an unlimited soda program. Once you buy a beverage, you can get free refills at refill stations around the arena.

“There’s lots of great seating, a lot of different lighting elements and some great digital features around the facility that we want to make sure everyone gets a chance to check out,” Kurth said. “So if you haven’t been to the Schottenstein Center recently, make some plans and come on down to join us.”