Ohio Stadium

About Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium sits on the banks of the Olentangy River at the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, about three miles north of downtown. At 102,780 seats, it’s the third-largest college football stadium in America — and on a fall Saturday when the Buckeyes take the field and Script Ohio wraps up, there aren’t many louder places on Earth.

Known as The Horseshoe for its distinctive open-ended shape, the stadium has been home to Ohio State Buckeyes football since 1922. The south end of the bowl was left open by design, originally facing the river, giving the stadium its iconic silhouette. Over 100 years later, it remains one of the most recognizable shapes in college sports.

Architect Howard Dwight Smith designed Ohio Stadium as the first concrete double-deck stadium in America. When it opened, it was the largest poured concrete structure in the world. The original 66,210-seat bowl cost $1.34 million to build. A $194 million renovation from 1998-2001 lowered the field 14 feet, added 81 luxury suites and 2,500 club seats, and pushed capacity past 100,000. Further upgrades through 2020 brought total investment above $240 million.

Beyond football, Ohio Stadium hosted the 2025 NHL Stadium Series (Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings), international soccer friendlies including Manchester City vs. Chelsea in 2024, and concerts from Pink Floyd to the Rolling Stones. The stadium was the first football venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Getting to Ohio Stadium

Public Transit

COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) runs multiple bus routes near Ohio Stadium on game days. Routes 1, 2, 8, 22, 31, and 102 serve the campus area with frequent service.

Note: Ohio State’s regular free campus buses are suspended on game days. The football shuttles and COTA public transit are your transit options.

Driving + Parking

Ohio Stadium is accessible from I-71 and Route 315. GPS users should enter “411 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210.”

Campus parking is tiered: Premiere lots ($60), Proximity lots ($40), and Non-Proximity lots ($30). All payments are credit card or smartphone only — no cash. Lots open at 5 AM. The free football shuttle connects West Campus lots to the stadium if you want to park farther out and skip the traffic.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft have two designated zones on game days: Borror Drive near the Schottenstein Center (primary) and 19th Avenue & Neil Avenue (secondary). Streets around the stadium are blocked to rideshare vehicles during events.

Pro tip: Set your pin to Borror Drive for drop-off. After the game, walk to one of the designated zones — don’t try to get picked up right outside the stadium.

From the Airport

Legacy of Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium isn’t just a venue — it’s the emotional center of one of college football’s largest fan bases. The traditions here have been building for over a century, and they’re as much a part of the experience as the game itself.

Script Ohio is the signature: the Ohio State Marching Band — “The Best Damn Band in the Land” — forms the word “Ohio” in flowing cursive across the field, and a senior sousaphone player dots the i. It’s been happening since 1936. Special guests who’ve earned the honor include Bob Hope, Jack Nicklaus, and astronaut John Glenn. On game day, the moment the i is dotted, 102,000 people roar as one.

The rivalry with Michigan defines the season every November. The 2016 edition drew the stadium’s all-time record crowd of 110,045. Tailgating spreads across every available surface on campus. And when the Buckeyes win — especially against That Team Up North — the south end of The Horseshoe becomes a sea of scarlet.

History of Ohio Stadium

Athletic Director Lynn St. John pushed for a permanent home for Buckeye football in the early 1920s. He hired Howard Dwight Smith, who won the AIA Gold Medal for Public Building Design for his horseshoe concept. Construction used materials from Marble Cliff Quarry, and E.H. Latham Company built the $1.34 million stadium in under a year.

• First Game (October 7, 1922): Ohio State defeated Ohio Wesleyan 5-0 before a crowd of 72,000 in the stadium’s inaugural game.
• Dedication Game (October 21, 1922): Michigan defeated Ohio State 19-0 in the first “The Game” at the new stadium.
• National Register of Historic Places (1974): Ohio Stadium became the first football stadium to receive this distinction.
• $194 Million Renovation (1998-2001): The field was lowered 14 feet, 81 luxury suites and 2,500 club seats were added, and capacity reached 101,568.
• All-Time Attendance Record (November 26, 2016): Ohio State vs. Michigan drew 110,045 fans — the largest crowd in stadium history.
• 100th Anniversary (October 1, 2022): Ohio Stadium celebrated its centennial during the Ohio State vs. Rutgers game.
• NHL Stadium Series (March 1, 2025): The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 in the first hockey game ever played at The Horseshoe.