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Columbus, Ohio is one of the largest cities in America, so one would think that the four
major sports would be elbowing to tap into this market. Yet of all the pro sports only
the NHL Blue Jackets play here... because basically, Columbus is a Buckeyes town.
That's Ohio State Buckeyes. And it is Ohio State football which is steeped in the very
fabric and traditions of this city, and it is a buzz that can be felt throughout the entire
area.
Ohio Stadium opened in 1922 on the campus of Ohio State University just north of
downtown Columbus. Unlike some of its peer venues which opened as small
stadiums and were later expanded, this facility had an original capacity of over 66,000
seats, mammoth for a building of that era. Of course, the building was eventually
expanded, to an official capacity of 102,329 seats. And a good thing too, because
every single one of these seats is filled to the brim, and the team has ranked in the top
five in total attendance going back decades.
The building is nicknamed "The Horseshoe" , due to its double deck horseshoe
design, and the open end zone used to hold portable bleachers, although the most
recent renovation, completed in 2001, installed permanent seating in that end zone.
Other state of the art renovations included widening of the concourses and new suites
and club seats on the west side of facility. A video scoreboard and companion dot
matrix board is displayed high above the south end zone.
Traditions and rituals are an important part of the game day experience at Ohio
Stadium. The team's marching band is a big part of the show here. Nicknamed
"TBDBITL" (The Bast Damn Band In The Land), the band holds a pregame rally and
concert in an adjacent arena, then proceeds parade style into the stadium.
The pregame field performance is not to be missed. A montage of traditional songs,
including the "Buckeye Battle Cry" is performed, with the band's Drum Major leading
the charge throughout. The show ends with the band's spelling out the word "Ohio" in
script, and the ultimate honor is bestowed on the individual who gets to "dot the I".
Normally given to a fourth year sousaphone player who is selected via a rigorous
winnowing down process, two non band members... Woody Hayes ad Bob Hope,
stand as the only two people outside the band to have had this honor.
The tailgate and party scene here at the Horseshoe is awesome... a veritable ocean of
red and white all around the stadium. The really cool party zone near the stadium is
Lane Avenue, north of the building. Plenty of college pubs, eateries, many with live
music and portable bars and food stands in their parking lots, even a major hotel with
live band and a jumbo video board. It is all an electric atmosphere.
Parking around the stadium campus periphery is generally $10, although some
charged $20 and even a couple of $5 lots if you look hard enough. But be prepared for
a lengthy walk, as parking closest to the stadium is reserved for pass holders.
People here are passionate about their Buckeyes. Big Ten rival Michigan is the most
despised opponent (t-shirt examples: "Ann Arbor is a Whore"; "In Poland they tell
Michigan jokes"), and it is that passion which makes The Horseshoe one of the
premier college football venues in the land!
major sports would be elbowing to tap into this market. Yet of all the pro sports only
the NHL Blue Jackets play here... because basically, Columbus is a Buckeyes town.
That's Ohio State Buckeyes. And it is Ohio State football which is steeped in the very
fabric and traditions of this city, and it is a buzz that can be felt throughout the entire
area.
Ohio Stadium opened in 1922 on the campus of Ohio State University just north of
downtown Columbus. Unlike some of its peer venues which opened as small
stadiums and were later expanded, this facility had an original capacity of over 66,000
seats, mammoth for a building of that era. Of course, the building was eventually
expanded, to an official capacity of 102,329 seats. And a good thing too, because
every single one of these seats is filled to the brim, and the team has ranked in the top
five in total attendance going back decades.
The building is nicknamed "The Horseshoe" , due to its double deck horseshoe
design, and the open end zone used to hold portable bleachers, although the most
recent renovation, completed in 2001, installed permanent seating in that end zone.
Other state of the art renovations included widening of the concourses and new suites
and club seats on the west side of facility. A video scoreboard and companion dot
matrix board is displayed high above the south end zone.
Traditions and rituals are an important part of the game day experience at Ohio
Stadium. The team's marching band is a big part of the show here. Nicknamed
"TBDBITL" (The Bast Damn Band In The Land), the band holds a pregame rally and
concert in an adjacent arena, then proceeds parade style into the stadium.
The pregame field performance is not to be missed. A montage of traditional songs,
including the "Buckeye Battle Cry" is performed, with the band's Drum Major leading
the charge throughout. The show ends with the band's spelling out the word "Ohio" in
script, and the ultimate honor is bestowed on the individual who gets to "dot the I".
Normally given to a fourth year sousaphone player who is selected via a rigorous
winnowing down process, two non band members... Woody Hayes ad Bob Hope,
stand as the only two people outside the band to have had this honor.
The tailgate and party scene here at the Horseshoe is awesome... a veritable ocean of
red and white all around the stadium. The really cool party zone near the stadium is
Lane Avenue, north of the building. Plenty of college pubs, eateries, many with live
music and portable bars and food stands in their parking lots, even a major hotel with
live band and a jumbo video board. It is all an electric atmosphere.
Parking around the stadium campus periphery is generally $10, although some
charged $20 and even a couple of $5 lots if you look hard enough. But be prepared for
a lengthy walk, as parking closest to the stadium is reserved for pass holders.
People here are passionate about their Buckeyes. Big Ten rival Michigan is the most
despised opponent (t-shirt examples: "Ann Arbor is a Whore"; "In Poland they tell
Michigan jokes"), and it is that passion which makes The Horseshoe one of the
premier college football venues in the land!
OHIO
STADIUM
Columbus,
Ohio
September
17,
2005
San Diego
State
Aztecs
at
Ohio State
Buckeyes
STADIUM
Columbus,
Ohio
September
17,
2005
San Diego
State
Aztecs
at
Ohio State
Buckeyes
| Columbus, Ohio |
Ohio Stadium "The Horseshoe"