Ohio Stadium, also known as The Horseshoe, The House that Harley built, and The Shoe, is the football stadium of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
OSU students and fans alike understand the incredible events that have transpired on the field of Ohio Stadium; it has played host to some of college football’s most memorable moments.
Here’s all you need to know about the iconic horseshoe:
A brief history
Ohio Stadium opened in 100 years ago in 1922 for $1.49 million ($26 billion in today’s dollars!) as a replacement for Ohio Field and has a seating capacity of 102,780, with the Buckeyes football team playing their home games in the stadium since it opened.
The first game in the stadium pitted the Buckeyes versus Ohio Wesleyan University in October 1922. In an ironic twist, fans were concerned by the emptiness of the stadium – the 25,000 in attendance filled up just half of the arena.
Over time, though, the stadium began to regularly sell out – especially after World War II.
It was originally designed to seat 66,210 people but has been expanded several times since then. The most recent expansion, completed in 2001, added 14,000 seats, bringing the total capacity to 102,780. The stadium is nicknamed “The Horseshoe” because of its shape.
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The stadium is also the site of the annual Buckeye Bash, a pep rally for Ohio State students held the Friday night before the Ohio State-Michigan football game.
Many famous concerts have also been held in the shoe – some of the most notable performers who have played at Ohio Stadium include Taylor Swift, U2, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd.
The gameday experience at Ohio Stadium is unlike any other. The stadium is packed with passionate fans cheering on the Buckeyes. The atmosphere is electric, and the fans are truly a part of the game.
In addition to being the home of the Buckeyes football team, Ohio Stadium is also the site of many other sporting events. The stadium has hosted the Ohio high school football state championship games since 1927. It is also the home of the Ohio State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The Ohio Stadium has also been the site of many other large events, including the Papal Mass of Pope John Paul II in 1979 and the funeral of President Gerald Ford in 2006.
Iconic games happen here
Some of the most iconic games in college football history have happened at Ohio Stadium:
- Nov. 26, 2016: The Buckeyes defeat their archrival Michigan 30-27 in a double overtime thriller that set an attendance record of 110,045 – well over the stadium’s 104,944 seating capacity at the time.
- Nov. 18, 2006: The “Game of the Century” happens. In front of a roaring crowd of over 105,000 fans, number-one ranked Ohio State defeats number-two ranked Michigan 42-39 in a high-flying offensive showcase.
- October 28, 2017: #6 Ohio State wins a close game against #2 Penn State by the skin of their teeth in what was the second-most attended game in the stadium’s history. The Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions 39-38 in a nailbiter.
Iconic concerts happen here
Ohio Stadium is home to more than football, though. Here are some of the greatest concerts that happened in The Shoe:
- 1988: Pink Floyd comes to town and performs in front of a crowd of 63,016.
- 1994: Billy Joel and Elton John play at Ohio Stadium as part of their “Face to Face 1994” tour.
- 1998: George Strait plays for nearly 70,000 fans.
- 2015: A whole host of country singers, including Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney play over the course of two days for a crowd of roughly 90,000.
The O-H-I-O chant
From The Hill in Clemson to White Out games at Penn State college football is home to a number of incredible traditions.
Every college football team has their own chant, but Ohio State’s is something special. Beginning in the student section, the crowd cheers the letter “O”, followed by “H” from the East stands, “I” from the North and “O” from the West, looping around for minutes on end. And before kickoff, the entire stadium will scream “O” loudly, then following up with the rest of the I-H-O once the ball is kicked.
The Shoe is home to some of college football’s finest moments and traditions, but not everyone is aware of the stadium’s history and past. Learning a little more about the Buckeyes home field now will help you later when football Saturday comes around next.