Construction Will Affect Parking, Traffic At Ohio Stadium On Buckeyes Game Day

There are some changes coming to Ohio Stadium that every Ohio State Buckeyes fan needs to know to make their next game day the best one yet.

The Ohio State Buckeyes opened their season against the Indiana Hoosiers on the road with a 23-3 win, but their home opener against Youngstown State is in five days.

While much of the Ohio Stadium game day operation remains the same, there are some aspects that have changed, the athletics department announced in a release Thursday.

Here is what you need to know for a game day at Ohio Stadium. For other game day information or questions, fans can go to Ohio State's athletics website.

Construction Affects Parking on Game Day

Cannon Drive, which runs along the west side of Ohio Stadium, is under construction and will be closed to northbound travelers turning right off John H. Herrick Drive. If fans are parking in either the West Stadium or South (French) Fieldhouse lots, it will be required to use Woody Hayes Drive, which is located north of the 'Shoe.

If parking in the East Stadium lot or the Tuttle or Northwest garages, it is encouraged to turn onto Woodruff Avenue from High Street to get there.

The Buckeye Lots near the Covelli Center, West Campus lots on the other side of the Olentangy River or in garages along High Street are other first-come, first-serve game day parking options. For fans that park on West Campus, a shuttle will operate from six hours prior to kickoff to one hour after the game ends, taking fans from the Mount Hall loop near Lane Avenue and Carmack Road to Coffey Road Park, where fans can walk across the Woody Hayes Bridge to Ohio Stadium.

Parking garages and lots will open at 5 a.m. and cost either $25 or $30 with only credit card transactions available.

Order Concessions From New Ohio State Buckeyes App

Ohio State athletics not only rebranded its website, but has created a new app for fans to use this season, changing its color from black to scarlet

It is important to download the new app because, not only can students and fans keep their tickets in a handy location, but patrons of Ohio Stadium can also order concessions from it, cutting down on lines and concourse traffic. Throughout each home game, there will also be opportunities for fans to "participate in unique game day experiences," the release stated.

If fans enable push notifications on the app, they can receive up-to-date information about game day parking and traffic, as well as news alerts about Ohio State athletics, game day promotions, ticket offers and "exclusive contests," the release said.

For other updates regarding parking, weather information and emergency situations, fans can opt in to Buckeye text alerts by texting OSUFB to 67283.

No More North Rotunda Entrance For Fans

For years, the iconic North Rotunda at Ohio Stadium served as an entrance for fans, but not this season.

The athletics department said the area at the north end of the 'Shoe will be reserved for only the marching band's entrance and the football team's walk from St. John Arena.

Fans will still be allowed to visit the North Rotunda and take photos before, during and after the game.

Ohio Stadium Still Cashless & Mobile Ticketing

For the last two seasons, the 'Shoe has been cashless and it will remain that way in 2023.

All concessions, parking attendants and souvenir shops will only take credit or debit cards for all purchases and transactions.

Mobile tickets will still be the only acceptable form of entry into Ohio Stadium as well. There are single-game tickets still available starting at $41 for some games, but fans can still purchase verified resale tickets for games that are or will be sold out.

For questions or ticketing information on game days, the Gate 5A ticket office, located on the northwest side of the stadium, will open three hours before each home game kicks off.

Game Day Timeline

All parking lots and garages will open at 5 a.m. on the day of an Ohio State home game regardless of kickoff time.

Four hours prior to kickoff, the doors at St. John Arena will open where The Ohio State University Marching Band will perform its "Skull Session" tradition two hours prior to kickoff.

FanFest will begin three hours before kickoff at the south lawn at St. John Arena, and Ohio Stadium will open two hours prior to the game's scheduled start time.

Approximately 20 minutes before kickoff, The Ohio State Marching Band will do its ramp entrance followed by Script Ohio and the national anthem.