Things to know on your visit to Ohio Stadium this year

Things to know on your visit to Ohio Stadium this year

Info on Cannon Drive, Buckeye Alerts, fan-friendly improvements

As the start of the 2024 Ohio State football campaign nears, there are plenty of important notes, updates and reminders to share with fans who will be visiting Ohio Stadium this season.

Cannon Drive no longer a throughway

One of the most important things to know on football Saturdays is that Cannon Drive will not be a public throughway on game days as the Cannon Drive Relocation - Phase 2 construction project around it continues. Cannon Drive is limited on game days to only those fans with West Stadium parking passes and to the varied service vehicles and security details servicing and staffing the game.

Those with West Stadium parking passes may access the lot from the north and south this year. Guests will be able to go north on Cannon Drive from John Herrick Drive past Lincoln and Morrill towers. Guests may also access the lot from the north at the new West Stadium lot entrance intersection and Woody Hayes Drive.

Fan-friendly upgrades & improvements for 2024

• The Department of Athletics is reintroducing its "Be the Best Fans in the Land" sportsmanship initiative. Messaging around respect, graciousness, community, tradition and champions will be pervasive this season at all athletics venues as we welcome four new teams into the Big Ten Conference.
• Fans seeking real-time traffic and parking updates, weather information and emergency notifications can get this info texted to them by opting in to Buckeye Alerts by texting OSUFB to 67283.
• The new WaitTime function on the Ohio State Buckeyes app features green, yellow and red indicators that reflect wait times at restrooms and concession stands throughout the stadium.
• The C-Deck concourse has 20 new 55-inch television monitors (A-Deck had 25 new monitors installed last year).
• Most A-Deck bathrooms were renovated with new flooring, lighting, paint and some fixture replacements.
• There are new video boards over all 32 A-Deck portal entrances that will enliven the video effects after big plays and Buckeye wins.
• The Huntington Club features nine new 109-inch television monitor displays and 25 new 65-inch displays, so fans won't miss a play when out of their seat.
• Open-air grilled "Weber" burgers and ribeye steak sandwiches will be featured food in Sections 25A and 26A with the department's new partnership with Weber Grills.
• New foods also include hot honey footlong dogs (toppings include pimento cheese, crumbled bacon, caramelized onions, hot honey and charred peppers), Impossible Dogs (regular and vegan hot dogs, along with gluten-free buns) and Crumbl Cookies.
• Spirits - Buckeye Vodka, Evan Williams, High Noon, Jameson Irish Whiskey and Patron - will be available for the first time throughout Ohio Stadium in sections 25A, 16A, 26A, 18C and 17C, and additionally in the NetJets Landing and Huntington Club areas. High Noon will also be available throughout the concourse and club areas.
• The Coors Light "just walk out and chill zone" is located at Gate 18A and is a place to relax with TVs, photo opportunities and refreshments.
• Fans can enjoy a Mexican food cart, TVs, photo opportunities and refreshments at Corona Buckeye Beach, located at Gate17A.
• Local craft beers will be featured in sections 7A, 18A, 14B, 9C and 20C.
• A new partnership with Aunt Flow will supply every women's restroom with complimentary menstrual products.
• VIP Ohio Stadium tours can be scheduled throughout the week (non-game days). Fans interested in seeing the home locker room, band center, press box, stadium clubs and playing field can purchase timed tickets in advance at OhioStadiumTours.com.
• Doors to the Skull Session at St. John Arena will open three hours prior to kickoff this year instead of four hours prior to kickoff.
• The bike corral will be located on the north side of Woody Hayes Drive near the bridge.

Game day timeline

The standard game day timeline for home games at Ohio Stadium this year:

• 5 a.m. - Parking lots open
• Three (3) hours prior to kickoff - Skull Session doors open at St. John Arena
• Three (3) hours prior to kickoff - FanFest opens on the St. John Arena south lawn
• Three (3) hours prior to kickoff - Ticket Office opens near Gate 5 on the northwest corner of Ohio Stadium
• Two (2) hours prior to kickoff - Ohio Stadium gates open and Skull Session begins
• 20 minutes prior to kickoff - TBDBITL's ramp entrance

Game day parking & traffic

Day of game parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis on football Saturdays. All football parking lots and garages open at 5 a.m. All parking sales are cashless: Credit and debit cards, along with smartphone payments, will be accepted. The prices to park this year are $25 and $30.

Day of game parking and season parking pass maps and turn-by-turn directions to the various parking areas around Ohio Stadium and campus can be found at this link: Ohio Stadium Traffic and Parking.

Fans who do not have parking permits are encouraged to park in the following areas: Buckeye Lots, West Campus or High Street garages. All guests should anticipate a wait time of 60-90 minutes post-game to clear parking lots & garages.

Ohio State Buckeyes app (it's scarlet)

Make sure to have the latest Ohio State Buckeyes app downloaded to your mobile device. It is the scarlet app and is compatible with both iOS 14 and above and Android 10 and above devices. The app includes options for fans to participate in unique game day experiences and to easily order concessions from their phones. The app includes options for fans to:

• Enable "push" notifications. Push notifications are instant updates about game day parking and traffic as well as news about Buckeye teams, ticket offers, game day information, exclusive contests and more.
• Sign up for Buckeye Experiences. Ohio Stadium game day experiences include watching warm-ups with a pregame field pass, taking photos on the field and birthday wishes and messages on the videoboard.

For more app info: Digital Ticketing (ohiostatebuckeyes.com).

Visit the game day website

Fans are encouraged to visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gameday/ for all game day information needs. The site includes info on mobile tickets and mobile parking passes, traffic and parking, maps, tailgating and an A-Z guide.

Metal detectors

All Ohio Stadium entry gates are equipped with walk-through metal detectors that guests pass through for entry. Fans will not need to empty their pockets unless instructed by stadium security.

No bag policy

Ohio State has a no bag policy at Ohio Stadium and at all athletics department venues. Small bags, no larger than 5 inches by 8 inches by 1 inch, will be permitted. Guests with medical or child care needs will be permitted to carry one bag, no larger than 14 inches by 14 inches by 4 inches, into the stadium through one of these two locations: the band center entrance between Gates 10 and 12, or the press entrance between the Huntington Club and Gate 23.

Load tickets and passes to Apple or Google wallet

All game tickets and parking passes are issued digitally to fans' smartphones/mobile devices. One of the most important steps for fans to do before arriving at the stadium is to load their mobile ticket and parking pass to their Apple or Google wallet. This step speeds up the entry process and guarantees tickets will be available to scan as Wi-Fi/cell connectivity is not needed to access tickets from a mobile wallet.

Visit Ohio State's Digital Ticketing Guide for complete information on how to access and manage digital tickets.

Cashless operations

Cashless operations are utilized throughout Ohio Stadium, including for program sales, concessions, ticket office transactions, merchandise and parking.

West Campus shuttle

A complimentary guest shuttle will transport fans from the Mount Hall loop located on West Campus (near Lane Avenue and Carmack Road) to Coffey Road Park on the western side of the Olentangy River near the edge of the Woody Hayes Bridge. Guests can walk across the bridge toward Ohio Stadium. This shuttle will operate from six hours prior to kickoff until one hour after the game ends.

Traffic pattern adjustments

When planning your arrival to Ohio Stadium, please reference the Traffic & Parking info page to view pattern routes and navigation links. Traffic patterns may be adjusted based on current traffic conditions. Signage and traffic officers are positioned to assist your navigation to and from Ohio Stadium.

Single game tickets available

Select game single game football tickets remain available for purchase at go.osu.edu/fbtix. Where available, single game ticket prices will start as low as $50 and will vary across price zones and opponents.

Verified resale tickets

Single game tickets for some games will sell out. However, verified resale tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and via the Ohio State Buckeyes app or Ticketmaster app. The Department of Athletics encourages fans to protect themselves from potential fraud by utilizing these sites for purchasing resale tickets over any other resale ticket options.

Fans should be aware that tickets purchased from other resale marketplaces are not guaranteed as valid for entry into the venue. Fans purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources assume the risk that tickets purchased are counterfeit or the barcodes have been invalidated.

Revelxp: Full-service tailgating

Revelxp is the official tailgate partner of Ohio State Athletics. The company offers turn-key tailgate packages at the Schottenstein Center for groups of all sizes. Visit Revelxp.com/ohio-state or call (614) 957-0822 for more information.

2024 game themes

• Aug. 31 vs. Akron - Archie Griffin Heisman Trophy 50th Anniversary Celebration and Faculty & Staff Appreciation
  • More info on 50th Anniversary Celebration: go.osu.edu/Archie50
  • Game Sponsor: Encova
• Sept. 7 vs. Western Michigan - Alumni Band Day
  • Game Sponsor: Buckeyes Care
• Sept. 21 vs. Marshall - Scarlet & Gray Game
• Oct. 5 vs. Iowa - Hall of Fame
  • Team will wear alternate gray uniforms
  • Game Sponsor:Safelite
• Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska - Homecoming & Scarlet the Shoe
  • Game Sponsor:Coca-Cola
• Nov. 9 vs. Purdue - Military Appreciation
  • Game Sponsor: Union Home Mortgage
• Nov. 23 vs. Indiana - First Responders Appreciation (new in 2024)
  • Game Sponsor:Huntington
• Nov. 30 vs. Michigan - Senior Day
  • Game Sponsor: OSUWMC/The James: Buckeyes for a Cancer Free World

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