Ohio Stadium, also known as The Horseshoe, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It is primarily used for American football games, serving as the home field for the Ohio State Buckeyes, its owner.
The stadium opened on October 7, 1922 with a match between Ohio State and Ohio Wesleyan, replacing the original Ohio Field. The original seating capacity was 66,210, but renovations and expansions over the years have increased this to 102,780, making it one of the largest stadiums in North America. The stadium was designed by Howard Dwight Smith and had an initial construction cost of $1.34 million.
Recognized as one of the most iconic collegiate football venues, Ohio Stadium has hosted a plethora of notable events. It has been a venue for numerous NCAA games, including hosting the 'The Game' - the annual rivalry match between Ohio State and the University of Michigan. The stadium was also the site for the 2015 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship. In a 2016 online poll by USA Today, it was voted as the best traditional college football stadium. By its ninetieth birthday, Ohio Stadium had welcomed more than 36 million spectators. The stadium is a potential venue for future international sports events and concerts, further cementing its status as a key landmark in American sports culture.
While the previous Ohio State stadium was also officially named 'Ohio Field', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Ohio Stadium. Ohio is the name of the state where the stadium is located, in the city of Columbus, which itself derives its name from the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Ohio used to simply call it The Shoe, due to its shape resembling a horseshoe. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Ohio Stadium', which is usually known as 'The Horseshoe'. This nickname, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since Ohio Stadium refers not to 'horseshoe' but to the original name of the stadium: Ohio Field.
Ohio Stadium was built in 1922 at a cost of $1.34 million and had an original capacity of 66,210. The stadium's architect, Howard Dwight Smith, an Ohio State alumni, utilized the ancient Greek architectural concept of symmetry to give the stadium its unique horseshoe shape.
Over the years, several renovations have increased the seating capacity to 102,780, making it the third largest stadium in the United States and the sixth largest stadium in the world. The stadium's record attendance of 110,045 was set in 2016 during a game between Ohio State and Michigan.
Ohio Stadium is not just a football stadium but also serves as a multipurpose facility. Apart from hosting Ohio State Buckeyes football matches, it has hosted concerts, operas, and serves as the venue for the university's Spring Commencement ceremonies.
Ohio Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974, becoming the first athletic stadium to be so recognized. The stadium's iconic rotunda at the north end, featuring stained glass windows with images of athletes in ancient Greek style, is one of the most recognizable features of the stadium.
In 2001, a $194 million renovation project was undertaken to upgrade the stadium. The renovation included the addition of 2,500 club seats, 81 suites, a new press box, and an increase in the width of the stadium's aisles and the size of its seats. The project also included the installation of a new video scoreboard and sound system.
The Ohio Stadium is an iconic symbol of Ohio State University and its rich athletic history. It continues to be a beloved destination for sports fans, students, and alumni alike.
An ideal location, with excellent accessibility and ample space for potential expansion, was found in the eastern part of the Ohio State University campus. Being situated on the intersection of Woody Hayes Drive and Tuttle Park Place, the new stadium was initially referred to as 'Ohio Field'.
The goal was always for the university to own both the stadium and the surrounding land. However, initially, a lease was made on the university-owned land with a final buy-out only happening in 1922. The plans for the sports complex were drawn as early as the late 1910s by Howard Dwight Smith, an Ohio-based architect.
Under the guidance of the university's president, George W. Rightmire, the students coped with an increased fee to support the construction costs for the new stadium. They offered substantial donations, and some even volunteered to work on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', where large quantities of bricks were donated to the university.
The construction officially began on August 3, 1921. Less than two years later, and at a cost of $1.34 million, on October 7, 1922, a crowd of 66,210 people filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rival team, Ohio Wesleyan.
'Ohio Stadium (1922)' (in English). Ohio State Buckeyes. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2015. https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com
'Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe) – until 2003'. StadiumDB.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015. https://stadiumdb.com
The Shoe doesn't lose its shine, Preface, Prime Books, 2003 (ISBN 972-8820-07-0). https://primebooks.com
Ohio State Buckeyes 100 glorious years - The History 1, Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003 (ISBN 989-554-099-X). https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Ohio State Buckeyes 100 glorious years - The History 1, pp.84, Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003 (ISBN 989-554-099-X). https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com
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