The Ohio Stadium (also known as "The Horseshoe" or "The Shoe") is the home field of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Ohio Stadium also hosts a handful of concerts each summer, bringing in artists such as The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. The stadium is located toward the eastern side of campus and is only an eight minute drive from downtown Columbus, OH. Known for its double-deck horseshoe design, Ohio Stadium is one of the most unique and recognizable stadiums in the world of college sports.
Ohio Stadium Parking
On football game days many lots on campus are reserved for those attending the game. These lots are typically located along the campus perimeter and can be paid for in a variety of ways.
More parking is typically available in the parking garages, which charge an hourly parking rate that can be paid upon exiting the garage. Those who plan on attending multiple events at Ohio Stadium may want to consider purchasing a parking permit for either the surface lots or the parking garages that can be used for the duration of a month. For more specific details on parking locations and costs for Ohio Stadium, visitors should reference the CampusParc webpage on visitor parking at The Ohio State University.
Hotels near Ohio Stadium
The highest-rated hotel within a 10 minute drive of Ohio Stadium is the Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center hotel. The Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center is known for its friendly staff and well-maintained rooms.
Although not rated as high as the Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center, the Comfort Suites hotel and The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus hotel are the best deals for visitors who still want to stay in a reputable hotel. Both the Comfort Suites and The Holiday Inn Express & Suites are located within a 10 minute drive of Ohio Stadium.
Seating at Ohio Stadium
For the best view, visitors should try and sit in sections 26, 28, and 30 A on the east side of the stadium, or sections 25, 27, and 29 A on the west side of the stadium. These seats are at the second closest seating level to the field, located close to the marching band's seats and the tunnel where the Ohio State football team makes their entrance onto the field.
As a general rule, the further the seats are from the field (rows 1-30 C), the cheaper the ticket prices. Families should try to get seats in one of the lower levels so that small children do not have to climb the tall staircases to get to the C-level rows.
Food at Ohio Stadium
On football game days, Ohio Stadium has dozens of concession and food cart options, which serve everything from typical game day food such as nachos, soft pretzels, and pizza, to slightly more unique dishes such as gyros, meatball subs, and loaded kielbasa.
One of the best concessions stands is Panera, which serves sandwiches, soups, and baked goods.
The Grill-Burger stand is another one of the stadium's best concession stands, known for its Ohio Pasture Proud burgers, which are made from grass-fed Ohio beef burgers.
A good place to get warm beverages for cold game days is the Tim Horton's stand, where visitors can purchase coffee and hot chocolate.
Beer at Ohio Stadium
It is important for visitors to note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Ohio Stadium. The concession stands do not sell alcoholic beverages, and those attempting to bring their own alcoholic beverages inside the stadium will have the beverages confiscated and may be told to leave the stadium. Furthermore, those who merely appear intoxicated or show signs of impairment may be denied entry into Ohio Stadium or could be removed from the stadium.
Parking Alternatives at Ohio Stadium
A football game day shuttle service is provided by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). This shuttle service runs between the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds and The Ohio State University Campus. The shuttles start leaving the Expo Center three hours prior to kickoff and continue to operate for two hours after the game is over.
A football game day taxi service is also available on Lane Avenue near the Riverwatch Tower, which is located across the street from the campus's French Field House and the Schottenstein Center.
What to Bring to Ohio Stadium
Guests may want to bring binoculars with them to Ohio Stadium to make sure they have a good view of the game, especially if they are seated in one of the higher (C-level) rows.
The Ohio stadium does have limited backed seating, but these seats are only available to be rented in advance of a game day or on a seasonal basis. As a result, those who don't want to pay for backed seating should bring a backless seat cushion with them to Ohio Stadium, but visitors cannot bring in chairs with back supports unless they are provided by Ohio State or they have a doctor's note saying they need the backed chairs for medical reasons.
Visitors are able to bring blankets into Ohio stadium, which can provide them with a cushion to sit on or can help keep them warm during some of the colder games at the end of the football season.
Insider Tip for Visitors to Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium has a long list of prohibited items that visitors are not allowed to bring inside the stadium. Some of these items include signs, permanent markers, strollers, air horns, pocket knives, and food coolers. Visitors should check the full list of prohibited items on the Ohio Stadium website because those in possession of prohibited items will have the items confiscated and may be barred entry to the stadium.
Author's bio: Miranda Roehler has lived in Northwest Ohio for her entire life. She studied Creative Writing and History at The University of Findlay and has been published in multiple international journals.
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