SportsQuest
All games

Week 11, Sat, Nov 14, Time TBA local

Northwestern Wildcatsat Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio Stadium, Columbus. Fly into CMH.

Build the quest

What we know about Ohio Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Short North. Rideshare or a drive north up High Street toward campus. Lively strip of galleries, pubs and restaurants on High Street between downtown and the University District, under the lighted High Street arches.
  • University District. Walk. Closest to the stadium and the High Street campus bars, but rooms are few.
  • Downtown Columbus. Rideshare or drive. Most hotel rooms in the city, North Market for food, and COTA buses to the airport.

Around the stadium

Checked at the source
North High Street on the east side of campus, by the Ohio Union. Campus bars such as Midway on High, Out-R-Inn and Ethyl & Tank sit on and just off High Street.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
CMH John Glenn Columbus International, 6 miles east of downtown Columbus.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Free football shuttle from west campus. Herrick Drive Transit Hub, south of Ohio Stadium, west of the Neil Avenue Garage. ADA shuttle to East side of Ohio Stadium near Gate 22.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Every football parking facility opens at 5 a.m. on game day, first come, first served. No saving spaces. Your vehicle and tailgate must fit inside the 8.5 by 15 foot space. Trailers and tailgate setups may not spill into empty spaces. Charcoal and wood grills are banned. Liquid propane grills are fine with a fire extinguisher on hand, set on level ground at least 10 feet from buildings. Ohio and Columbus law bans open containers of beer in public spaces, and the parking rules point to that law. RV spaces are sold only through the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office: 1-800-GOBUCKS or [email protected].

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
The 60-minute Basic Buckeye Tour covers the stadium grounds and sidelines. The 90-minute VIP Tour adds the Band Center and the home locker room. Book through Ticketmaster from the Ohio State athletics site. Check in at the Huntington Club near Gate 23, 15 minutes early; late arrivals cannot join. Gameday tours start 3 to 4 hours before kickoff in the Press Box, stop at the Huntington Club, NetJets Landing and North Ramp, and finish with field-level access and the pregame in St. John Arena.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
The free campus football shuttle runs until 90 minutes after the game, from the Herrick Drive Transit Hub south of the stadium back to the Mount Hall loop on west campus. Regular CABS campus buses stay suspended until two hours after the game ends.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't count on paying cash to park: day-of-game lots take credit cards or phone payment only.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Out-R-Inn

    20 E. Frambes Ave, Columbus, OH 43201

    Campus bar open since 1969 that calls itself tailgate headquarters on game day.

    Away fans: a Buckeye institution. Expect a home crowd from breakfast on.

  • Midway on High

    1728 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201

    College bar and live music venue across from the Ohio Union, with $2 drink specials.

    Away fans: student bar with cheap drinks. Loud and packed on game day.

  • Ethyl & Tank

    19 E 13th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201

    Two-story bar with a DJ booth and TVs throughout, plus a coffee bar and a brunch room. It bills its main bar as game day's home base.

    Away fans: mixed crowd with a coffee bar and brunch as well as a full bar, so it works for groups.

Sidequests in Columbus

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Eat50 points

    Lunch at North Market

    Columbus's public market has run since 1876. Independent food stalls, produce, and local makers fill it under one roof, open Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    $. The day before

  2. Tour75 points

    Ohio Stadium tour

    Walk the Horseshoe sidelines on a 60-minute guided tour. Take the 90-minute VIP version and get into the Band Center and home locker room.

    $$. The day before

  3. Outing50 points

    Jack Nicklaus Museum

    This museum holds more than 2,000 items from Jack Nicklaus's life and career. It sits on the Ohio State campus, a short walk north of the stadium.

    $. The day before

  4. Photo40 points

    Short North arches at night

    Seventeen lighted arches run down High Street through the Short North. Galleries, pubs and murals line the way under them.

    Free. The day before

  5. Ritual90 points

    Skull Session at St. John Arena

    Two hours before kickoff, the Ohio State Marching Band plays Buckeye favorites inside St. John Arena. Players and coaches speak too, a pep rally tradition going back to 1932, so fans line up hours early for seats.

    Free. 2 hours before kickoff

  6. Ritual75 points

    Script Ohio in the Horseshoe

    The marching band spells out Ohio in script, and a sousaphone player dots the i. Then the whole stadium spells O-H-I-O, section by section.

    Free. 20 minutes before kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Ohio Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

A deck, end zoneA deck, corner, home sideA deck, home sidelineA deck, corner, home sideA deck, end zoneA deck, corner, visitor sideA deck, visitor sidelineA deck, corner, visitor sideB deck, end zoneB deck, corner, home sideB deck, home sidelineB deck, corner, home sideB deck, end zoneB deck, corner, visitor sideB deck, visitor sidelineB deck, corner, visitor sideC deck, end zoneC deck, corner, home sideC deck, home sidelineC deck, corner, home sideC deck, end zoneC deck, corner, visitor sideC deck, visitor sidelineC deck, corner, visitor sideD deck, end zoneD deck, corner, home sideD deck, home sidelineD deck, corner, home sideD deck, end zoneD deck, corner, visitor sideD deck, visitor sidelineD deck, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
A deck1A to 39A, AA sections, Club 1 to 5B deck1B to 39BC deck1C to 30CD deck11D to 29DTap any part of the stadium to see its view.