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The Horseshoe

Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH, home of Ohio State. Capacity 102,041. Opened October 7, 1922.

Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH

Hosted College GameDay more than any other stadium26 shows

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OHPhoto: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Capacity
102,041
Opened
1922
Surface
Shaw Sports Momentum Pro
Roof
Open air
Elevation
711 ft
Home team
Ohio State
Ohio State here
163–⁠15 games on file since 2001
College GameDay
26 times
National Register
1974

Since it opened: Ohio State is 498–⁠115–⁠22 in home games from the 1922 season on. Our source names a game’s stadium only from 2001, so that count takes every earlier home game not marked neutral and may include a few played elsewhere.

Biggest games here

From the games on file here, 2001 on: title and postseason games, meetings of two ranked teams, upsets by our pregame Elo ratings and the biggest swings in CollegeFootballData.com’s excitement index.

Capacity through the years

From 66,210 seats in 1922 to 102,041 today, across 26 documented figures. Sources disagree on four stretches, drawn in orange; the table says which figure we use and why.

Ohio Stadium capacity by season, 1922 to 202660k70k80k90k100k110k1940196019802000202066,210102,041
Every figure and its sources
1922–⁠194366,210Official source
1944–⁠194772,754Single source
1948–⁠195778,677Single source
1958–⁠196079,658Single source
196179,727Single source
1962–⁠196881,109Single source
1969–⁠197081,455Single source
197181,475Single source
197281,667Single source
197382,567Single source
197483,080Single source
1975–⁠198183,112Single source
1982–⁠198485,290Single source
1985–⁠198885,399Single source
1989–⁠199086,071Single source
1991–⁠199491,470Single source
1995–⁠199989,841Single source
200095,346Single source
2001101,568Sources disagreeThe Ohio State University Archives gives 99,000. The University Archives’ 99,000 is a round figure for the renovated stadium; Wikipedia’s 101,568 is the exact capacity, though no Ohio State document giving it was found. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
2002–⁠2006101,568Single source
2007–⁠2013102,329Official source
2014104,944Sources disagreeOhio State Athletics gives 102,329; Wikipedia gives 102,329; Ohio State Athletics gives 104,581; Wikipedia gives 104,851. Ohio State’s 2021 media guide gives 104,944 as the official capacity from 2014 until the B-Deck suites cut it in 2019; the centennial timeline’s 104,581 (repeated in the 2026 game notes) and Wikipedia’s prose 104,851 match no other source, and Wikipedia’s 102,082 for 2018 rests on a 2011 page. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
2015–⁠2017104,944Official source
2018104,944Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 102,082. Ohio State’s 2021 media guide gives 104,944 as the official capacity from 2014 until the B-Deck suites cut it in 2019; the centennial timeline’s 104,581 (repeated in the 2026 game notes) and Wikipedia’s prose 104,851 match no other source, and Wikipedia’s 102,082 for 2018 rests on a 2011 page. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
2019–⁠2025102,780Official source
2026102,041Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 102,780; Ohio State Athletics gives 102,780. Ohio State’s facility page and its game notes from Sept. 19, 2026 give 102,041; the opener’s notes (Sept. 5) and Wikipedia still carry 102,780, and no release explaining the change was found. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)

How we know

  • 1922–⁠1943
    • Ohio Stadium (facilities), Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium Quick Facts): 66,210 for 1922–⁠1943, no dates given, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 66,210 for 1922–⁠1943; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 66,210 for 1922–⁠1943, no dates given; read 2026-10-09
  • 1944–⁠1947
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 72,754 for 1944–⁠1947; read 2026-10-09
  • 1948–⁠1957
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 78,677 for 1948–⁠1957; read 2026-10-09
  • 1958–⁠1960
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 79,658 for 1958–⁠1960; read 2026-10-09
  • 1961
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 79,727 for 1961; read 2026-10-09
  • 1962–⁠1968
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 81,109 for 1962–⁠1968; read 2026-10-09
  • 1969–⁠1970
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 81,455 for 1969–⁠1970; read 2026-10-09
  • 1971
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 81,475 for 1971; read 2026-10-09
  • 1972
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 81,667 for 1972; read 2026-10-09
  • 1973
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 82,567 for 1973; read 2026-10-09
  • 1974
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 83,080 for 1974; read 2026-10-09
  • 1975–⁠1981
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 83,112 for 1975–⁠1981; read 2026-10-09
  • 1982–⁠1984
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 85,290 for 1982–⁠1984; read 2026-10-09
  • 1985–⁠1988
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 85,399 for 1985–⁠1988; read 2026-10-09
  • 1989–⁠1990
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 86,071 for 1989–⁠1990; read 2026-10-09
  • 1991–⁠1994
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 91,470 for 1991–⁠1994; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 91,470 for 1991–⁠1994; read 2026-10-09
  • 1995–⁠1999
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 89,841 for 1995–⁠1999; read 2026-10-09
  • 2000
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 95,346 for 2000; read 2026-10-09
  • 2001
  • 2002–⁠2006
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (Renovations section): 101,568 for 2001–⁠2006, no dates given; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 101,568 for 2001–⁠2006; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 101,568 for 2001–⁠2006; read 2026-10-09
  • 2007–⁠2013
    • Ohio Stadium (facility page for the 2007 season), Ohio State Athletics (first section (written for the 2007 season)): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014, no dates given, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • 2013 Ohio State Football Information Guide, Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium quick facts): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014, no dates given, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014; read 2026-10-09
  • 2014
    • Ohio Stadium (facility page for the 2007 season), Ohio State Athletics (first section (written for the 2007 season)): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014, no dates given, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • 2013 Ohio State Football Information Guide, Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium quick facts): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014, no dates given, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 102,329 for 2007–⁠2014; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • It's a Celebration: 100 Years of Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Athletics (timeline (2014)): 104,581 for 2014, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • 2021 Ohio State Football Media Guide, Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium notes): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2017; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (Renovations section): 104,851 for 2014; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
  • 2015–⁠2017
    • 2021 Ohio State Football Media Guide, Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium notes): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2017; read 2026-10-09
  • 2018
    • 2021 Ohio State Football Media Guide, Ohio State Athletics (Ohio Stadium notes): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018, repeating Ohio State University; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (lead): 104,944 for 2014–⁠2018; read 2026-10-09
    • Ohio Stadium, Wikipedia (timeline of seating capacity table): 102,082 for 2018; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
  • 2019–⁠2025
  • 2026

A list that ends one range in the year the next begins (“1969–⁠1972”, then “1972–⁠1976”) is read as a change that year.

Official source: the school’s own publication. Independently corroborated: two or more sources that don’t copy each other. Sources disagree: we show both and say which we use and why. Single source: one source only. Documented for 105 of the 105 seasons since 1922; 4 disputed (as of 2026-10-18). All the evidence.

Crowds season by season

Average and biggest crowd at Ohio Stadium by season, 2001 to 202680k100k120k2001: 103,752 a game over 5 games; biggest 104,4072002: 103,488 a game over 8 games; biggest 105,5392003: 104,870 a game over 8 games; biggest 105,2862004: 104,876 a game over 6 games; biggest 105,4562005: 105,017 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,5652006: 105,096 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,7082007: 105,110 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,4532008: 104,976 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,7112009: 105,261 a game over 7 games; biggest 106,0332010: 105,278 a game over 8 games; biggest 105,4912011: 105,226 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,5112012: 105,330 a game over 8 games; biggest 106,1022013: 104,933 a game over 7 games; biggest 105,8892014: 106,296 a game over 7 games; biggest 108,6102015: 107,244 a game over 7 games; biggest 108,9752016: 107,278 a game over 7 games; biggest 110,0452017: 107,495 a game over 7 games; biggest 109,3022018: 101,947 a game over 7 games; biggest 106,5882019: 103,383 a game over 7 games; biggest 104,7972020: 1,310 a game over 2 games; biggest 1,3442021: 96,756 a game over 7 games; biggest 102,9512022: 104,663 a game over 8 games; biggest 106,7872023: 103,792 a game over 6 games; biggest 105,5062024: 104,061 a game over 9 games; biggest 106,0052025: 104,105 a game over 7 games; biggest 107,5242026: 101,293 a game over 4 games; biggest 102,589200120062011201620212026

Biggest crowds on file

110,045Michigan at Ohio State2016
109,302Penn State at Ohio State2017
109,088Oklahoma at Ohio State2017
108,975Michigan State at Ohio State2015
108,750Nebraska at Ohio State2016

Bars are each season’s average crowd, dots its biggest (the record in orange), the dashed rule today’s capacity. Attendance is on file for most games from 2001 on.

The pregame shows here

ESPN’s College GameDay has broadcast from Ohio Stadium 26 times, first in 1996; Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff 18 times.

Nov 28, 2026Big Noon KickoffMichigan at Ohio State
Sep 26, 2026Big Noon KickoffOhio State 42, Illinois 19
Nov 1, 2025Big Noon KickoffOhio State 38, Penn State 14
Aug 30, 2025College GameDayOhio State 14, Texas 7Outside St. John Arena
Aug 30, 2025Big Noon KickoffOhio State 14, Texas 7
Dec 21, 2024College GameDayOhio State 42, Tennessee 17Outside St. John Arena
Nov 30, 2024Big Noon KickoffMichigan 13, Ohio State 10
Nov 23, 2024College GameDayOhio State 38, Indiana 15Outside St. John Arena
Nov 23, 2024Big Noon KickoffOhio State 38, Indiana 15
Oct 26, 2024Big Noon KickoffOhio State 21, Nebraska 17
Sep 21, 2024Big Noon KickoffOhio State 49, Marshall 14
Oct 21, 2023College GameDayOhio State 20, Penn State 12Outside St. John Arena
Oct 21, 2023Big Noon KickoffOhio State 20, Penn State 12
Oct 7, 2023Big Noon KickoffOhio State 37, Maryland 17
Nov 26, 2022College GameDayMichigan 45, Ohio State 23Outside St. John Arena

The latest 15 of 44.

College GameDay’s sites from Wikipedia’s list of College GameDay locations (CC BY-SA). Big Noon Kickoff’s from Wikipedia’s list of its sites (CC BY-SA).

Weather on game day

Coldest kickoffs

Hottest kickoffs

Snow at kickoff

Coldest game days before 2004

Hottest game days before 2004

Snow on game day

Kickoffs: the NOAA report nearest kickoff from the closest weather station (NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database). Game days: the day’s high and snowfall at the NOAA station nearest the stadium, for Ohio State’s home games before 2004 (NOAA GHCN-Daily, public domain).

The stadium’s history

Also known as
The Horseshoe
The Shoe
The House That Harley Built
Opened
October 7, 1922
Architect
Howard Dwight Smith
Class of 1907
Surface over the years
Shaw Sports Momentum Pro (2022–present)
FieldTurf (2007–⁠2022)
AstroTurf (1971–⁠1989)
Grass (1922–⁠1970, 1990–⁠2006)
Expanded
1948, 1991, 2001, 2014
Renovated
2000–⁠01
Record crowd
110,045 (November 26, 2016 vs. Michigan)

From the stadium’s Wikipedia article, Ohio Stadium.

From above

50 mN ↑
The stadium’s footprint, north up: about 210 by 280 meters (700 by 920 feet), the field in green. Outline from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors.

On the National Register

Listed
March 22, 1974
Reference
No. 74001494 The nomination

National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service; nominations in the National Archives catalog.

Recent games here

Oct 10, 20265Ohio State 45, Maryland 16
Sep 26, 20267Ohio State 42, Illinois 19
Sep 19, 20266Ohio State 59, Kent State 3
Sep 5, 20261Ohio State 56, Ball State 3
Nov 22, 20251Ohio State 42, Rutgers 9
Nov 15, 20251Ohio State 48, UCLA 10
Nov 1, 20251Ohio State 38, Penn State 14
Oct 4, 20251Ohio State 42, Minnesota 3
Sep 13, 20251Ohio State 37, Ohio 9
Sep 6, 20251Ohio State 70, Grambling 0
Aug 30, 20253Ohio State 14, 1Texas 7
Dec 21, 20246Ohio State 42, 7Tennessee 17

Pouring rights

Coca-Cola has the stadium’s soft-drink pouring rights. Official source.