ohio state tours of stadium

Ohio State Buckeyes | Ohio State University Athletics

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Walk the sidelines where Woody once roamed, Archie made history and where the Buckeyes have battled since 1922. Experience the Yassenoff Recruit Center filled with pictures of current and former Buckeye greats. Travel up to one of the nation’s largest collegiate press boxes, where over 400 media personnel and staff are seated for games. See the Huntington Club level and view the field from one of the 81 suites. Visit the $1.5 million Steinbrenner Band Center, home to the “Best Damn Band in the Land.” Explore other areas of the “the Horseshoe” for a unique Buckeye experience. The locker rooms are not open to the public and will not be included as a part of the tour.

All football trophies are available for viewing on display at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center front lobby—available to the public on weekdays during normal business hours.  

A two-week notice is required to schedule a tour. Cannot schedule tours more than six months in advance. Tours can be scheduled year-round by appointment only on Monday through Friday at any time between 9:00am and 4:30pm (last tour can start at 3:00pm). A typical tour lasts 1.5 hours.Tours are not available on the Friday of a home Football weekend. Tours are not available on university holidays. 

For information on tours of the Jerome Schottenstein Center, please visit  http://tours.schottensteincenter.com . Tours are not provided for any other athletic facilities, including the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.   

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TOUR TIME: Explore the ‘Shoe with Ohio State’s New Stadium Tours

Attention sports enthusiasts and Buckeye fans! The doors to the legendary Ohio Stadium, also known affectionately as the ‘Shoe, are now open for an exclusive peek behind the scenes.

Starting Monday, April 22, the Ohio State Department of Athletics is inviting fans to explore the hallowed grounds of the first football stadium ever to be recognized on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1973. To secure your spot on this historic tour, head over to https://www.ohiostadiumtours.com/.

Two distinct tour packages are on offer, granting visitors expanded access hours and the flexibility to book last-minute tours, pending availability. The Buckeye Basic Tour, a 60-minute journey priced at $30 for adults and $20 for youth, will guide visitors through the field, press box, Huntington Club, NetJets Landing, and the University/President’s Suite. For those looking for a more in-depth experience, the 90-minute VIP Stadium Tour, costing $35 for adults and $25 for youth, covers all the basic tour stops plus exclusive access to the Buckeyes’ locker room, the recruiting room, and the band center/rehearsal hall.

Group discounts are available for those looking to explore Ohio Stadium with friends, school groups, day camps, or for a unique corporate outing. The Ohio State Department of Athletics has set up a specialized Group Tour Concierge team to ensure your group visit is seamless and memorable.

As a token of the experience, each tour participant will receive a special Ohio Stadium Tour coin, uniquely designed for each new calendar year, making it a collectible souvenir to remember the visit by.

Don’t miss this opportunity to walk through a piece of sporting history at Ohio Stadium and witness where countless moments of athletic prowess have unfolded. Book your tour today and become part of the legacy.

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Northwestern football to play Illinois and Ohio State at Wrigley Field this year

The cubs’ home stadium was available for college games, but not until november, when the baseball playoffs will have ended..

Illinois plays against Northwestern during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, in Chicago, on Nov. 20, 2010. Wrigley Field will host a college football game for the third time since 2010 when Iowa plays Northwestern next season on Nov. 4, 2023, Northwestern and the Chicago Cubs announced Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Nam Y. Huh/AP

Northwestern’s football team will play its first five home games at its temporary on-campus stadium this year, the school announced Wednesday. The Wildcats’ two most compelling games, however, will be at Wrigley Field.

The Wildcats will play Ohio State on Nov. 16 and rival Illinois on Nov. 30, both at the Friendly Confines. The Cubs’ home stadium was available for college games, but not until November, when the baseball playoffs will have ended.

Their on-campus home games will come against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 31, Duke on Sept. 7, Eastern Illinois on Sept. 14, Indiana on Oct. 5 and Wisconsin on Oct. 19.

Northwestern began demolishing their home for the almost 100 years, Ryan Field — only a skeleton of the press box remains — about three months ago. They plan to open a new stadium in 2026 on the same site.

Their search for a stadium in which to play in the interim years had been the subject of intrigue since the team announced construction plan.

Last month, the Wildcats announced plans to expand the Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility, the lacrosse/soccer stadium on their lakefront campus in Evanston. InProduction, which built stands for last summer’s NASCAR race downtown, will construct the facility this summer. It’s expected to hold about 15,000 fans. The structure will stand for the next two football seasons, with the lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer teams also using it.

Prior to deciding to build the temporary stadium, Northwestern considered playing games at Seat Geek Stadium, the former Fire home in Bridgeview, as well as Soldier Field. The latter would have proven difficult — the Bears and Fire are primary tenants.

Northwestern will give priority to 2023 season ticket-holders when distributing tickets at the smaller on-campus stadium. It’s unclear whether the school will allow fans to park on campus —there’s one garage within walking distance — or have them take a shuttle from nearby lots in Evanston.

Wrigley Field has hosted three college games since 1938 — all played by Northwestern. The Wildcats played Illinois in 2010, Purdue in 2021 and Iowa last year.

The Big Ten will announce start times and television networks later this summer.

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Ohio Stadium

Imagine hosting your event inside one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of college athletics. Thanks to recent major remodeling efforts, you can host your corporate meeting, University conference, wedding ceremony and reception, or expo event in one of the upscale rooms in historic Ohio Stadium. From beautiful meeting sites to large and spacious reception rooms, Ohio Stadium offers a unique venue that will provide a remarkable experience for you and your guests. 

• Over 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space
• NetJets Landing premium space that can accommodate 220 in rounds and up to 450 for reception, overlooking the field
• Memorable meeting spaces such as the Recruit Room, University Suite and Huntington Clubs
• Levy Catering; the exclusive on-site catered for all Ohio Stadium events
• Views overlooking one of the most historic playing surfaces in all of athletics
• Opportunity to treat your guests to a true Buckeye experience with a Stadium tour or on-field photos
• Complimentary wireless Internet access

Ohio Stadium is staffed with professional planners to assist in every detail of your event, from identifying the best space to meet your needs to executing your event. Included in the rental are tables and chairs, Audio Visual, and Redcoat Event Staffing who will welcome and direct guests, and Parking (dependent on the date/time of the event).

Stadium Tours

We can accommodate stadium tours during the event for an additional fee. The event tours typically last 30 minutes and go to the Press Box and Field-level; however, the tours can last up to 90 minutes and visit other tour locations.

Dining and catering

Ohio State Athletics is pleased to have Levy Restaurants as our exclusive in-house caterer. From game day themed buffets to exquisite sit down meals, enjoy locally inspired cuisine by their esteemed Chefs. Please contact Levy Restaurants for catering arrangements at [email protected] or by phone at 614-688-4660 .

Catering is not included in the facility rental fee.

At A Glance

• Accommodates over 1,000 guests
• Alcohol service permitted
• Indoor event facility
• Reception area
• On-site parking
• Complimentary Wi-fi
• On-site catering

Contact information

Ohio Stadium 411 Woody Hayes Dr. Columbus, OH 43210

Email: [email protected] Phone: 614-247-1739

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Ohio State Buckeyes Ranked Top 10 in 'Most Impressive Football Facilities'

Timm hamm | may 13, 2024.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the legendary and historic programs in all of college football.

As such, their facilities need to reflect both the history and future of the storied program. Ohio State has spared no expense in upgrading both the Horseshoe and the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, helping to keep it one of the top college football facilities in the country.

New digs at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/18Scr2lLXf — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 19, 2019

It's because of the program's dedication to its student-athletes and the on-campus facilities that 247Sports has ranked Ohio State in the top 10 nationally in its " 30 most impressive facilities in 2024 ."

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Woody Hayes Athletic Center, which houses the Buckeyes' championship wall in the lobby, features state-of-the-art locker rooms and a strength training area. Its $7.8 million upgrade — the  — was completed in recent years. There's an improved 42,000-square-foot players lounge, a kitchen and nutrition area, a barber shop, a basketball court, a golf simulator, an arcade, a cryotherapy chamber, sleep pods and an illuminated waterfall in a locker room filled with lots of steel and lots of scarlet. Ohio State opened its renovated dining facility inside the WHAC in 2019, highlighted by pool tables, Pop-A-Shot basketball games and film rooms where position groups break down footage from games or practices. 

It should be no surprise to find Big Ten schools all over the top 10 and the complete list of 30.

Joining the Buckeyes in the top 10 is a new Big Ten member, the Oregon Ducks, at No. 1 and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 8.

A full rundown of the top 10 are below:

10. South Carolina Gamecocks 9. Auburn Tigers 8. Nebraska Cornhuskers 7. Ohio State Buckeyes 6. LSU Tigers 5. Clemson Tigers 4. Texas A&M Aggies 3. Georgia Bulldogs 2. Alabama Crimson Tide 1. Oregon Ducks

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Ohio State to begin offering tours of the 'Shoe

I f you ever wanted to visit Ohio Stadium and take a tour of one of the most iconic venues in all of sports, you are now luck. That's because the Ohio State Department of Athletics will begin offering tours of the 'Shoe beginning on Monday, April 22 -- some might say finally. Those wanting to take advantage of seeing the first football stadium to be officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1973, can do so at https://www.ohiostadiumtours.com/ .

There will be two tour packages available and fans can enjoy extended hours of the stadium being open and even book last minute tours if available:

• A 60-minute Buckeye Basic Tour that costs $30 for adults and $20 for youth and will include visits to the field, press box, Huntington Club, NetJets Landing and the University/President’s Suite; and
• An extended, 90-minute VIP Stadium Tour, costing $35 for adults and $25 for youth, that includes all of the basic tour locations in addition to touring the Buckeyes’ locker room, the recruiting room and the band center/rehearsal hall.

Doral Chenoweth/Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK

According to a release, "discounts will be offered for larger groups wanting to tour Ohio Stadium. A dedicated Group Tour Concierge staff has been assembled and can assist school groups, day camps and corporate outings."

Each tour guest will also receive a commemorative Ohio Stadium Tour coin, with a new design specific to each new calendar year.

Contact/Follow us  @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State to begin offering tours of the 'Shoe

The Horseshoe turns 100: Ohio Stadium tour offers behind-the-scenes look at iconic venue

• Updated: Sep. 06, 2023, 2:58 p.m. |
• Published: Oct. 06, 2022, 8:13 a.m.

• Susan Glaser, cleveland.com

COLUMBUS – When Ohio Stadium debuted in October 1922, officials feared it was too big, with seating for 62,000. And then 70,000 people showed up for the dedication game – against That Team Up North.

“It wasn’t too big,” said Bill Babbitt, a tour guide at the venerable athletic facility, celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.

It was, in fact, too small, and would be enlarged numerous times in the coming decades.

Editor’s note: This story, originally published on Oct. 6, 2022, was updated on Sept. 7, 2023.

Throughout its 100-year history, the stadium has been many things to many people – an athletic facility, first and foremost, home of the Ohio State University football team, which has won eight national championships (most recently in 2014); and where track and field superstar Jesse Owens came to international prominence in the 1930s.

It’s a music venue, too, where Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift have performed, and where the Best Damn Band in the Land puts on a show eight (or more) times every fall. It’s also a place where thousands of students celebrate the milestone of college graduation every year.

Finally, it’s a tourist attraction – a bucket-list destination for fans of college football, sure, but also fans of iconic architecture and American culture.

“It’s always been an important place for me – a cathedral, really,” said Dave DeAngelo, an OSU alum who is senior associate director of recreational sports for the Office of Student Life. “So many of my memories are tied to events that happened here.”

DeAngelo, who also operates the game clock at home football games, recently arranged for a group of 16 students in a sophomore-mentoring program to take a tour of the stadium.

Tours are available to the public too, offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most storied athletic venues of all time.

The early years

A new stadium was first proposed for Ohio State in the late 1910s, after player Charles “Chic” Harley attracted national attention to the Ohio State football program, drawing tens of thousands to the games, then played at the diminutive Ohio Field. A community-wide campaign to fund the $1.5 million facility even recruited the city’s clergy.

“Preachers in church on Sunday talked about how important this was,” said Babbitt.

The school hired Howard Dwight Smith, an Ohio State-educated, Italy-loving architect, who modeled the stadium’s north-end rotunda after Rome’s Pantheon and the arches after the Colosseum. The two-tiered structure featured a curved endzone – shaped like a horseshoe – so that all fans faced the field.

The first game was Oct. 7, 1922, when Ohio State beat Ohio Wesleyan 5-0. The stadium was officially dedicated two weeks later, on Oct. 21, when the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines, 19-0. Since then, the Buckeyes have played 597 games here, winning 78% of the matches.

Tours enter the stadium through the north rotunda ramp, just like the band does, and exit after ogling the swanky suites and club seats, where a chair on the 50-year-line runs $4,000 a season (not including required membership to the Buckeye Club).

And in between, visitors can:

* Walk across the field – artificial turf since 2007 – and stop for photos atop Block O at the 50-yard line. Student Nathan Molloy of Worthington was so inspired by the experience that he removed his shoe and launched it to a classmate. “I’ve always wanted to be the guy on the field,” he said. “This was the closest thing I could get.”

* Step behind the podium inside the media center and channel head coach Ryan Day as he takes questions at a post-game press conference. “Coach, why didn’t you go for it on fourth and one?” one student interrogator demands to know.

* Stroll through the Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Band Center, where 228 top brass and percussion players practice daily during football season. Babbitt offers this bit of band trivia inside the center: Only 14 people not in the band have had the honor of dotting the I during the band’s iconic Script Ohio. Among them: John Glenn, Jack Nicklaus and Bob Hope.

Other stops on the tour: the press box, the recruiting room and the Victory Bell, which rings for 15 minutes after every Ohio State home victory. Babbitt noted that in the past 10 and a half years, the bell has been silent after just four matches.

The stadium underwent a major renovation and expansion from 1999 to 2001, which included new scoreboards, a new press box, new suites and club seats for a total increase in capacity of more than 6,000. In addition, the temporary bleachers in the south end zone were replaced with permanent seating – closing off for good the open end of the horseshoe.

At its largest, the stadium held just shy of 105,000 spectators, the third largest in the country behind Michigan and Penn State. Today, after the conversion in 2019 of several thousand seats into the Loge Club, the stadium holds 102,780 (still third biggest). The record attendance of 110,045 came on Nov. 26, 2016, in a game against -- who else? -- Xichigan.

The renovations in the early 2000s also permanently shuttered the dorms that were added to the stadium in the early 1930s. The Stadium Scholarship Dorms were conceived as a way to make college more affordable after the Depression. Students paid minimal rent and were required to work to maintain the facility.

The rooms had their disadvantages – the accommodations were spartan, without windows. But they had some key advantages, as well. In the early days, at least, residents could easily sneak into areas of the stadium that were off-limits to most students.

DeAngelo lived in the stadium dorms for two years in the late 1980s. “It was an awesome place to live,” he said. Even today, he said, he’s asked if he could hear the games when he lived at the stadium. His answer: “I don’t know because I was always at the game.”

He, alongside 100,000 of his closest friends.

If you go: Tours of the stadium are offered Monday through Friday, excluding the Fridays before home football games. They can be booked online two or more weeks in advance. Cost is $200 for up to 10 people. For information: ohiostadiumtours.com

Ohio Stadium in Legos, part of "A Walk in our 'Shoe" exhibit at Thompson Library. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

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Georgia woman identified as person killed in stadium fall during Ohio State graduation

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text,   or chat with   the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org  for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The death of a woman who fell from Ohio Stadium during Ohio State University's spring commencement on Sunday has been identified as a Georgia resident, authorities announced Tuesday.

Larissa Brady, 53, of Woodstock, Georgia, north of Marietta, was pronounced dead at 12:25 p.m. Sunday at the scene outside Ohio Stadium by Columbus firefighters, according to the coroner's office. Brady was identified by her fingerprints, the coroner's office said.

Brady's daughter was receiving a bachelor's degree during the ceremony, according to the university's program . Brady spoke to her daughter as she entered the stadium for commencement, the coroner's office report stated.

Brady then went into the stadium with her husband and 12-year-old son to sit and watch the ceremony, according to an investigative report from the coroner's office. Once seated, Brady then told her family she wanted to move higher into the stadium and her family told investigators they lost sight of her.

After making her way to the last row of benches, witnesses saw Brady climb over the stadium's concrete wall, according to the coroner's office. Brady had been sitting in section C30 near the bell tower.

Investigation after deadly fall

According to the coroner's office, Brady had suffered from mental health issues and had attempted suicide at least twice before, most recently earlier this year. Her husband told investigators that she had not been compliant with her medications.

Ohio State and its police department have released little information about the death that occurred during Sunday's commencement ceremony. Ohio State police did not suspect foul play nor that the fall was the result of an accident, university spokesman Ben Johnson said Tuesday in an emailed statement.

The death, according to preliminary reports reviewed by The Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, is being investigated as an "apparent suicide" by the Franklin County Coroner's Office.

Following the death, the university contacted all graduates and staff who volunteered at graduation and offered counseling services, Johnson told The Dispatch. The commencement on Sunday continued uninterrupted  as news of the death spread through the crowd.

University officials and commencement speakers — including social entrepreneur and OSU alum  Chris Pan  — did not reference to the death during the ceremony. Students leaving the graduation ceremony at the stadium walked past the area where Brady fell, which was still cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape.

"Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates," Johnson said via email. "Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time."

Ohio State graduation death: Here's what we know

Ohio State University released the name of the woman who died during Sunday's commencement ceremony after a fall from Ohio Stadium .

Larissa Brady, 53, of Georgia,  was pronounced dead at 12:25 p.m. at the scene outside Ohio Stadium  by Columbus firefighters. The coroner's office identified Brady by her fingerprints.

While the shocking death has left more questions than answers, here's what we know as of early Monday.

What happened at OSU graduation?

Around 12:30 p.m., a person fell from Ohio Stadium's stands near the Bell Tower just as some of the last graduates filtered into the stadium via a tunnel, according to university officials and an eyewitness.

"An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased," OSU spokesman Ben Johnson said Sunday in the university's initial confirmation of the death. "We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and emergency responders are on scene. For anyone affected by today's incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available."

The commencement continued uninterrupted  as news of the death spread through the crowd. Students leaving the ceremony walked past the area where the body fell still cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape.

Who is Larissa Brady?

Larissa Brady, 53, was pronounced died outside Ohio Stadium. The coroner's initial release does not say whether her death was accidental or intentional. However, police do not suspect foul play or that the fall was the result of an accident, Ohio State spokesman Ben Johnson said in an emailed statement.

Brady's daughter was listed as a graduate being honored with a bachelor's degree at Ohio State on Sunday, according to the university's 2024 commencement program .

"Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates," Johnson said via email. "Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time."

Where did the accident happen?

Police taped off an area on the southeast side of Ohio Stadium Sunday, near gate 30 where Ohio State football players enter the stadium. The incident happened near a tunnel that students used to enter the stadium for the ceremony that is normally reserved for OSU football players during home games.

How did students react?

"No way -- that's unbelievable," one eyewitness said.

The witness, who asked to not be identified, said they saw someone fall and it happened just as the last graduates filing past that area as they entered the stadium.

A Dispatch reporter attending the ceremony said that other attendees and some students at commencement were visibly upset as news of the death began to spread through news organizations and social media.

University officials, commencement speakers — including social entrepreneur and OSU alum  Chris Pan  — made no reference to the death during the ceremony. Pan spoke about world peace and Bitcoin, among other topics, and sang the song 'This Little Light of Mine.'"

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, you can reach Ohio's 24/7 Crisis Text Line by texting 4HOPE to 741741 or call the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Hotline at 614-221-5445 or Ohio State's Counseling and Consultation Services at 614-292-5766. The national Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255 /TALK ( 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish speakers).

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Mother identified as person killed in fall at daughter’s Ohio State graduation ceremony

FILE - Clouds pass above The Ohio State University’s football stadium, May 18, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. A woman who fell from the stands to her death during a graduation ceremony at Ohio State University last weekend has been identified as a Georgia resident, authorities announced Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, file)

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A woman who fell from the stands to her death during a graduation ceremony at Ohio State University last weekend has been identified as a woman whose daughter was receiving her diploma.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office said the 53-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, just outside Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sunday. The Columbus Dispatch reported the death was being investigated as an apparent suicide, citing coroner documents.

An investigation continues into how the woman fell from the stadium, which the school says is 136 feet (41 meters) tall, to the pavement below. However, Ohio State police do not suspect foul play and believe the fall was not accidental, university spokesperson Ben Johnson said Tuesday.

It happened around midday, near the stadium’s Bell Tower, as the last graduates were filing into the stadium. According to the commencement program, the woman’s daughter was among those graduating.

The commencement continued without mention of what happened, but some students and others at the ceremony were visibly upset after the fall. A spokesman said the university has contacted all graduates and staff who volunteered at graduation to offer counseling services.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

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Planning your visit

We're excited to host you on campus. Read on for helpful information, including steps we're taking to keep you and all visitors safe and healthy.

How many guests can I bring?

Each student may bring two guests. Additional guests will not be permitted to enter the Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center, nor will they be permitted to join a campus tour group once dismissed.

Do I have to register?

Registration is required; walk-in visitors cannot be accommodated.

When do you post new visit dates?

At the beginning of each month, we post new visit dates two months ahead. For example, on February 1 we post new options for April.

What accessibility accommodations are available?

We want all individuals to engage fully in our events, whether in person or online. If you need accommodations such as captioning or interpretation to participate, please indicate your request during registration, or contact us at [email protected] or 614-292-3980. We appreciate 14 days' notice, but we will make every effort to accommodate all requests.

Where can I park?

For admissions visits on the Columbus campus, please park in the Union South Garage, located right next to the Ohio Union (where you’ll check in for your tour). The address for the Union South Garage is 1759 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43210. For departmental sessions, please visit CampusParc to find the nearest parking options for your visit location.

Does Undergraduate Admissions validate parking?

Undergraduate Admissions provides a reduced parking rate of $10.25 for guests attending an official in-person event or tour and parking in a designated garage. Guests taking a self-guided tour or solely visiting an academic or athletic department are not eligible for the reduced rate. Get information about parking on campus .

Where will my tour start and end?

Admissions visits on the Columbus campus will start and end at the Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center on the third floor of the Ohio Union, located at 1739 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210. You can begin to check in for your tour no more than 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. For departmental sessions, please follow directions to the location provided in your confirmation email and note that check-in for those sessions may not happen until close to the start time.

What can I expect on my tour?

Your tour guide will share personal Ohio State experiences and talk about the academic experience, residential experience and campus community. They'll also take you inside the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), Thompson Library, and a residence hall. Please note that campus tours are not included in departmental sessions.

Can I visit the academic department for the major I'm interested in?

Select academic departments are offering in-person sessions; most are offering live online events as well. If you're on campus, be aware that staffing in our academic facilities varies, so we can't guarantee you'll be allowed to walk in or that you'll find staff available.

My plans have changed. How can I cancel or reschedule my visit?

To cancel your visit, follow the instructions in your confirmation email. Each student and guest must cancel individually . To reschedule your visit, please cancel your existing visit, then register for a new date.

What if I cannot make any of the available dates?

We will continue to offer plenty of virtual options for prospective students and admitted students . Additionally, you are welcome to take a self-guided tour of campus .

Can you sign my school excuse form?

We will only sign or provide school excuse forms for students scheduled for an official guided tour. We cannot sign a school excuse form for students taking the self-guided tour. If you need proof of your visit to campus, we suggest a date-stamped photo or a dated parking receipt.

What health and wellness measures are in place?

By registering, you're indicating that you have read and will follow Ohio State's campus visit guidelines . All visitors are required to follow university public health guidelines. 

Masks remain optional in most indoor spaces on all Ohio State campuses. The university continues to require masks in clinical health care settings. Learn more at Safe and Healthy Buckeyes .

In the case of extreme weather, will Ohio State cancel a visit or tour?

No matter the weather, safety is always the top priority. If the Columbus campus is open, we will conduct our scheduled visits and events, but we may make modifications (for example, we might reduce the time spent outdoors).

If there is a university closure, Undergraduate Admissions and academic visits and events will be cancelled. We will email registered guests (and/or send a text to those opted in to texting) to let you know.

Ohio State's regional campuses may have different criteria for closures or modifications. Please contact the specific campus to confirm your visit status.

Can I sign up for Buckeye Alerts?

The Buckeye Alert System is Ohio State's emergency notification system, and a great way to hear about severe weather, traffic closures or emergencies while you're on the Columbus campus. To receive Buckeye Alerts for 24 hours, text “OSUGuest” to 67283. To receive Buckeye Alerts for 48 hours, text “OSUGuest2” to 67283.

Dining on campus

Want to grab a meal or coffee before or after your program? Most of our campus dining locations are open to the public, and there’s something for everyone .

Buckeye merch

Don’t leave campus without something to remember your Buckeye experience! Visit Barnes & Noble – The Ohio State University Bookstore at the Gateway. There are also two convenient satellite locations at the Ohio Union and near the Tuttle Garage . All locations offer a great selection of t-shirts, hoodies, gifts and more.

Experience Columbus

Looking for a place to stay, unique restaurants or fun activities while you’re in the 614? Explore everything you need to plan a visit to our incredible city.

We're happy to help! Contact us.

Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center, Ohio Union, Third Floor

1739 North High Street | Columbus, Ohio 43210

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