Ohio Stadium

Lore & Background

The stadium opened in 1922 as a replacement for Ohio Field and had a seating capacity of 66,210. From 1996 to 1998, Ohio Stadium was the home venue for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer prior to the opening of Columbus Crew Stadium in 1999. The stadium also was the home venue for the OSU track and field teams from 1923 to 2001. In 1923, a cinder running track was added that was later upgraded to an all-weather track. The track was removed in 1998. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Reader's Guide

Seating capacity gradually increased over the years and reached a total of 91,470 possible spectators in 1991. Beginning in 2000, the stadium was renovated and expanded in several phases, removing the track and adding additional seating, which raised the capacity to 101,568 by 2001 and to 102,329 in 2007. In 2014, additional seating was added in the end zone, raising the official capacity to 104,851. Another renovation to add more luxury suites began in 2017 and will eventually lead to a decrease of 2,500 seats. It is the largest stadium by capacity in the state of Ohio, and the third largest on-campus football stadium in the United States.

Did You Know?

• The first game in the stadium was against Ohio Wesleyan University on October 7, 1922.
• The stadium was home to the OSU track and field teams until the opening of Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in 2001.
• The playing surface at Ohio Stadium is known as Safelite Field, named for Columbus-based Safelite.