Ohio Stadium

Interstate 315 runs just west of campus and connects with I-70 and I-670; High Street forms the eastern spine. Football closures and outbound reversals change the normal campus grid, so use the lot shown on the current map as the destination.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  Approach from the side of campus assigned to the selected parking zone. Woody Hayes Drive and streets around the athletics district close or restrict movement before kickoff, and postgame routes send vehicles away from campus by zone.
• Parking
  Current day-of categories are priced by proximity: recent rates were $60 for premier locations, $40 for proximity locations and $30 for non-proximity areas. Purchase in advance when offered; all inventory is first come, first served when not reserved.
• Parking
  West Campus lots beyond State Route 315 provide the strongest visitor value and connect to the free football shuttle. Walkable garages and Buckeye lots cost more and fill earlier.
• Parking
  Mobile parking passes must be displayed on a phone. Screenshots or printouts may not scan, so load the pass into the appropriate wallet before reaching traffic officers.
• Parking
  Accessible parking is concentrated north of St. John Arena, with adapted shuttles to Gate 22 on the stadium's east side. A valid placard or plate is required, and the registered user must be present.
• Parking
  Campus RV spaces require advance permits and open on gameday. The Ohio Expo Center can serve RVs and other visitors without campus inventory, subject to its own event calendar and fees.

Public Transit

• The free football shuttle runs from Mount Hall Loop on West Campus to the Herrick Drive Transit Hub south of Ohio Stadium from six hours before kickoff until roughly 90 minutes after the game.
• This football shuttle is not ordinary CABS service. Standard CABS routes, paratransit and on-demand service suspend six hours before kickoff until two hours after the game.
• COTA local buses serve High Street and the university district. Event-specific express service can change by season and conflict with Ohio Expo Center events, so check COTA rather than relying on an old fairgrounds route.
• Visitors staying in the Short North or near the Ohio Union can walk. High Street to Lane Avenue or 17th Avenue offers a lively approach, but allow 25–40 minutes depending on the starting point and crowd.
• Bicycling is practical on the Olentangy Trail, with event bicycle parking or valet programs announced by season. Locking to trees, railings or accessibility features is prohibited.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use the designated livery and rideshare zone shown on the current football map, not Ohio Stadium's main address. The zone may sit west or south of the immediate security perimeter.
• A drop in the Short North, Grandview or near West Campus followed by a walk or shuttle can be faster than entering the campus core.
• After the game, walk beyond Lane Avenue, High Street or the athletics district before requesting a car. Surge pricing and outbound traffic persist long after the Victory Bell.

Give Ohio State at least five hours. The key events overlap: Fan Fest, Buckeye Walk and Skull Session all occur north of the stadium, then the marching band moves toward the ramp entrance.

Tailgating

• Football parking areas generally open early on gameday, with no overnight parking in ordinary Buckeye and campus lots. Follow the opening time printed for the chosen facility.
• Keep tents, chairs, coolers and grills within the allotted tailgate footprint and out of adjacent stalls, sidewalks, fire lanes and traffic routes.
• Ohio law prohibits open containers in public places. Alcohol may be consumed only where specifically allowed; carrying a drink along Woody Hayes Drive or across ordinary campus walkways can result in enforcement.
• Grills must be attended and cooled safely. Garage restrictions are tighter than surface-lot rules, so do not assume a flame or fuel source is allowed inside a structure.
• Buckeye Gameday Fan Fest
  The free family event in Remembrance Park outside the ice rink and St. John Arena offers music, food, games, sponsors and merchandise. It opens several hours before kickoff.
• Fan Fest is also the best place to see the team movement and a band appearance without a private tailgate invitation. Exact times vary by kickoff.
• Full-service tailgate packages and alumni pregame events are available for visitors seeking reserved space. Confirm whether admission includes food, beverages or a game ticket.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Varsity Club
  The Lane Avenue institution steps from the stadium is the classic Ohio State gameday bar, with a large outdoor setup, televisions, music and a dense scarlet crowd. Arrive very early.
• Out-R-Inn
  A relaxed campus bar east of High Street with inexpensive drinks, televisions and student atmosphere. It is better for adults comfortable with a crowded college-bar scene.
• The Library Bar
  Another long-running campus option for beer, cocktails and game viewing. Its High Street location pairs with a walk through the academic campus.
• Ethyl & Tank
  A larger High Street venue serving brunch, burgers and bar food across multiple levels. It works for groups but fills quickly on football weekends.
• HangOverEasy
  A popular breakfast and brunch stop near campus known for large pancakes, eggs and comfort food. Join the waitlist early for a noon kickoff.
• Buckeye Donuts
  The 24-hour shop has served donuts, coffee and late-night food near campus since 1969. It is an easy Friday arrival or postgame stop rather than a leisurely sit-down meal.

• Buckeye Walk
  Roughly two hours before kickoff, the team walks through the Remembrance Park and St. John Arena area toward Ohio Stadium. Fan Fest and official experiences gather along the route.
• Skull Session
  St. John Arena opens four hours before kickoff for a free, first-come pep rally. The band performs its pregame and halftime music beginning about 90 minutes before the game, and the football team makes an appearance.
• TBDBITL ramp entrance
  The Ohio State University Marching Band enters through the north ramp at 180 beats per minute, chanting O-H-I-O before exploding into its pregame. Be seated early enough to see the ramp itself.
• Script Ohio
  The band writes a cursive Ohio while playing “Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse,” and a senior sousaphone player dots the i. It may occur in pregame or halftime depending on the performance schedule.
• “Buckeye Battle Cry” and “Across the Field”
  The two fight songs follow scores and band movements. The crowd supplies the shouted responses and spelling without prompting.
• “Hang On Sloopy”
  The McCoys song prompts four-part O-H-I-O arm movements during the second half. Since 2025, the band has had flexibility to choose the moment rather than always using a fixed third-quarter break.
• O-H-I-O chant
  One side of the stadium begins with O, then the sound and arm shapes move around the bowl. Watch the student sections to keep the correct letter.
• Victory Bell
  The 2,420-pound bell in the southeast tower rings before the team's entrance and after Ohio State wins. On a calm night, tradition says it can be heard miles away.
• Brutus Buckeye and buckeye leaves
  Brutus changes his entrance and works the student section, while helmet leaves reward team achievement. The latter tradition began under Woody Hayes in 1968.

• North rotunda
  The 70-foot Pantheon-inspired rotunda, stained-glass windows and monumental ramps form the stadium's architectural signature and essential photo location.
• Buckeye Grove
  Southwest of the stadium, a buckeye tree honors each Ohio State first-team football All-American. Plaques identify the players and connect living landscape to program history.
• Jesse Owens Memorial Plaza
  The plaza outside the stadium honors the Ohio State sprinter who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and once competed on the track inside the Horseshoe.
• Chic Harley history
  The stadium campaign followed the popularity of All-American Charles “Chic” Harley, giving rise to “The House That Harley Built.” A historical marker near the rotunda explains the centennial story.
• Victory Bell tower
  Look to the southeast corner after a win. Alpha Phi Omega members have rung the bell since the 1954 victory over California.
• Olentangy River setting
  The field lies near river level west of the main campus. A slurry wall and pumping system protect the lowered playing surface from groundwater and flooding.
• Roman arches
  Howard Dwight Smith drew from the Colosseum, aqueducts and Pantheon, creating a civic monument that earned him an American Institute of Architects gold medal.

History & Notable Moments

• Ohio Stadium opened October 7, 1922, when Ohio State defeated Ohio Wesleyan 5-0 before approximately 25,000 spectators.
• A crowd of more than 71,000 packed the dedication game two weeks later, when Michigan defeated Ohio State 19-0.
• Jesse Owens competed on the stadium track before his four-gold performance at the 1936 Olympics. The track remained until the major renovation at the end of the 20th century.
• The 1950 Snow Bowl against Michigan was played in blizzard conditions and featured 45 punts; Michigan won 9-3 without recording a first down.
• Ohio Stadium became the first football stadium added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
• The first night football game occurred in 1985, when Ohio State defeated Pittsburgh 10-7 under temporary lights.
• A three-season renovation completed in 2001 lowered the field, removed the track, made the south stands permanent and added suites, clubs and modern concourses for slightly more than $194 million.
• A record 110,045 watched No. 2 Ohio State defeat No. 3 Michigan 30-27 in double overtime on November 26, 2016.
• Ohio State hosted Tennessee in the first College Football Playoff game played at the stadium in December 2024, beginning the title run celebrated as the 2024 national championship season.

Ohio Stadium has A Deck closest to the field, B Deck beneath the overhang and C Deck above it. The horseshoe curves around the north rotunda, with South Stands closing the former open end. Bench seats are narrow and many routes involve ramps or stairs; use the gate and deck printed on the ticket.

• A Deck
  Lower-bowl seats provide proximity and the strongest atmosphere. Very low rows can be blocked by players, cameras and sideline equipment.
• B Deck
  These seats gain weather protection from C Deck but may have columns or a low overhang affecting sightlines. Check the exact seat view before buying.
• C Deck
  Upper seats show formations clearly and reveal the horseshoe's scale. They are exposed to wind, sun and rain, and the climb is substantial.
• Block O
  Student sections occupy the north and south ends, with general-admission entry at designated gates. Expect standing, coordinated cheers and limited tolerance for a seated view.
• South premium seating
  New for 2026, the south end includes wide chairbacks, in-seat service and access tied to the 1922 Club. These are distinct from ordinary South Stands tickets.
• Premium areas
  Huntington Club, suites, loges, club seating, NetJets Landing and the new 1922 Club provide differing indoor access and hospitality. Verify benefits on resale.
• Accessibility
  Accessible platforms and companion seating appear across multiple decks, with elevators and adapted shuttles from St. John Arena. Arrange exchanges through the ticket office before gameday.

Ohio Stadium is cashless, and the Buckeyes app supports mobile ordering at permanent stands with line and restroom wait information. Levy operates a broad menu combining stadium basics, Columbus brands and rotating opponent-themed food.

• Brutus' Best
  Hot dogs, bratwurst, popcorn, pretzels, nachos and drinks appear at many locations and provide the fastest dependable meal.
• Columbus favorites
  Donatos pizza, Hot Chicken Takeover, Dirty Frank's hot dogs, Dos Hermanos tacos and local craft beer give the menu a recognizable local base.
• Specialty food
  Buckeye BBQ, loaded tots and mac and cheese, birria nachos, cheesesteaks, gyros and “Taste of the Competition” burgers rotate across specific stands.
• Vegetarian choices
  Impossible hot dogs and some tacos, pretzels, popcorn and sides offer meat-free options. Ask about ingredients and cross-contact before ordering for an allergy.
• Alcohol
  Beer, wine and cocktails are sold to guests 21 and older, with a two-drink transaction maximum. Sales end at the end of the third quarter and may stop earlier.
• Hydration
  One empty clear plastic water bottle may enter. Courtesy cups are available at first aid and can be filled with water; self-serve beverage refill stations are distributed around the decks.
• Timing
  The app's WaitTime bar helps avoid peak lines. Order before quarter breaks, especially from B Deck where circulation is constrained by the historic structure.

• Ohio Stadium has a no-bag policy. Backpacks, purses, fanny packs, clear bags, crossbody bags, camera bags and other bags are prohibited regardless of transparency.
• One wallet, wristlet or clutch no larger than 5 by 8 by 1 inch is permitted, with or without a strap, after inspection.
• A guest with medical, dietary or childcare needs may bring one necessary bag. Enter through the Steinbrenner Band Center doors between Gates 10 and 12 or the Press Entrance near Gate 23 for inspection.
• Binoculars without a case, unrolled blankets, ponchos, tablets, small radios, foam cushions without backs or zippers and still cameras with lenses no longer than 100 millimeters are allowed.
• One empty clear plastic water bottle may enter. Outside food, filled drinks, coolers, laptops, large cameras, strollers, noisemakers, poles and weapons are prohibited.
• Umbrellas may be carried but cannot be opened in seating areas. All guests pass walk-through screening, and re-entry is not permitted after leaving the stadium.