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 DistrictVisiting fans pick this
Walk. Closest to the stadium and the High Street campus bars, but rooms are few.
Shelly Woodford, Google Maps
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.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Ohio Stadium
From John Glenn Columbus
From a specialist guide
CMH John Glenn Columbus International, 6 miles east of downtown Columbus.
On game day
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.
Parking and tailgating at Ohio Stadium
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].
Game day at Ohio Stadium
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.
Food and drink at Ohio Stadium
Bars near the stadium
Checked at the source
Out-R-Inn, Google Maps
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.
Justin N, Google Maps
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.
Tod Bowen, Google Maps
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.
Things to do around Ohio Stadium
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Eat50 points
Lunch at North Market
This public market has run since 1876 with independent food stalls, produce, and local makers under one roof, open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
$. The day before
Tour75 points
Ohio Stadium tour
You can walk the sidelines of the Horseshoe on a 60-minute guided tour, or go 90 minutes for the VIP version that gets you into the Band Center and the home locker room.
$$. The day before
Outing50 points
Jack Nicklaus Museum
This museum holds more than 2,000 items from the golfer's life and career, a short walk north of the stadium on the Ohio State campus.
$. The day before
Photo40 points
Short North arches at night
Seventeen lighted metal arches run down High Street through the Short North, past galleries, pubs and murals.
Free. The day before
Ritual90 points
Skull Session at St. John Arena
Two hours before kickoff the Ohio State Marching Band plays Buckeye favorites and players and coaches speak to the crowd at this pep rally dating back to 1932, and fans line up hours early to get a seat.
Free. 2 hours before kickoff
Ritual75 points
Script Ohio in the Horseshoe
The marching band spells out Ohio in script with a sousaphone player dotting the i, then the whole stadium spells O-H-I-O section by section.
Free. 20 minutes before kickoff
Seats and views at Ohio Stadium
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
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.
