As you cross the Lane Avenue Bridge and look to the right in astonishment, it is obvious to passersby that you are headed toward Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes. Nestled along the banks of the Olentangy River, Ohio Stadium is one of the most recognizable landmarks in college sports. In fact, Ohio Stadium, also known as “The Shoe” because of its horseshoe shape, was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Today, Ohio Stadium is considered one of the best college football stadiums in the nation. With a seating capacity of 102,780, it is one of the largest football stadiums in college football.
The history of the stadium dates back to 1913, when the Buckeyes played at Ohio Field. As support for the team continued to grow, it became apparent that a new stadium was needed to accommodate the increasing number of fans. Disagreements over where to build the stadium, along with funding issues, led to delays in construction. Despite these challenges, the university commissioned Howard D. Smith to design a double decked horseshoe stadium in 1918. After funding was secured, construction began in August 1921. Built of steel and concrete, the stadium was constructed at a cost of $1.3 million.
The Buckeyes played their first game at Ohio Stadium on October 7, 1922, against Ohio Wesleyan. When it opened, Ohio Stadium had a seating capacity of 66,210 and featured a unique double decked horseshoe configuration. Successful seasons throughout the years led to numerous upgrades and expansions. In 1984, a new scoreboard was added, and in 1991, 5,000 seats were added to the south end zone.
The most significant renovation and expansion project in Ohio Stadium history took place between 1998 and 2001. The project included removing the Jesse Owens Track and lowering the playing field by 14 feet. Lowering the field allowed additional rows of seating to be installed closer to the action. A 40 foot tall shell was also added to the east and west sides of the stadium, allowing the rim to be raised and 17 additional rows of seats to be added. A new video scoreboard, 76 luxury suites and 2,500 club seats were also included in the massive expansion project.
Before the start of the 2007 season, the playing surface was changed from natural grass to FieldTurf. Prior to the 2012 season, a new 42 by 124 foot HD video scoreboard was installed as part of a $7 million improvement project that also included a new audio system and LED ribbon boards. In 2013, Ohio State announced plans to add another 2,500 seats to the south end zone. Completed in 2014 at a cost of $9 million, the expansion increased the seating capacity to 104,851, making Ohio Stadium the third largest stadium in college football at the time.
In March 2016, the university announced plans to preserve and upgrade portions of the historic facility. The project included concrete restoration throughout the stadium, the removal of 2,600 seats following the 2018 season, replacement of those seats with new suite and lodge seating in the B Deck, and expansion of the university suite areas. Following these improvements, the seating capacity of Ohio Stadium was reduced to 102,780.
With a winning percentage of more than .700, 41 conference championships and nine national championships, the latest coming in 2024, there is little doubt that Buckeye fans will continue to fill Ohio Stadium every fall.
