Ohio Stadium — affectionately known as ‘The Horseshoe’ or simply ‘The Shoe’ — has stood as the iconic home of the Ohio State Buckeyes since it opened on October 7, 1922. Designed by architect Howard Dwight Smith (Class of 1907) and situated along the Olentangy River on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio, the stadium’s distinctive open-ended horseshoe shape made it one of the most recognizable venues in American sports from the moment it debuted.
With a current capacity of 102,780, The Horseshoe ranks among the three largest on-campus football stadiums in the United States and is the largest stadium by capacity in the state of Ohio. Over its century-long history, the venue has welcomed more than 36 million fans, been expanded multiple times from its original 66,210-seat footprint, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974 — cementing its status as both a sporting cathedral and a genuine American landmark.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA Football)
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Opened: October 7, 1922
- Architect: Howard Dwight Smith
- Capacity: 102,780 (as of 2019)
- Record Attendance: 110,045 — November 26, 2016 vs. Michigan
- On National Register: Listed 1974
- Nicknames: The Horseshoe, The Shoe, The House That Harley Built
A Century of Buckeye Football
When Ohio Stadium opened in 1922, it held 66,210 fans — a staggering figure for the era. A series of expansions across the following century gradually pushed capacity past 100,000, with a major renovation completed between 2000 and 2001 raising seating above 101,000. By 2014, new end-zone seating brought the count to 104,944, and the current official figure of 102,780 has been in place since 2019.
The stadium’s third nickname, ‘The House That Harley Built,’ honors Chic Harley, the Buckeyes’ first three-time All-American whose enormous popularity in the early 1920s generated the fan enthusiasm and fundraising that made the new stadium financially possible. Beyond football, The Horseshoe has hosted Ohio State’s spring commencement ceremonies and concerts by artists ranging from Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones to Taylor Swift and U2.
The Atmosphere on Game Day
What sets Ohio Stadium apart is the sheer electricity of a sold-out Saturday in Columbus. Three massive decks of scarlet-and-gray clad fans wrap around three sides of the field, while the open south end frames the Columbus skyline — creating a visual spectacle unlike any other stadium in the country. An engineering slurry wall runs beneath the structure to protect it from flooding by the adjacent Olentangy River, an infrastructural feat as notable as the stadium’s architecture.
The atmosphere reaches its peak during the annual rivalry game against the Michigan Wolverines. That matchup produced Ohio Stadium’s all-time attendance record of 110,045 on November 26, 2016 — a number that underscores how deeply college football is woven into the identity of Columbus and the entire state of Ohio.
Explore more: Explore more iconic stadiums on ThrillZing.
Ohio Stadium FAQs
Why is Ohio Stadium called ‘The Horseshoe’?
The nickname comes from the stadium’s distinctive horseshoe-shaped design, with three enclosed decks wrapping around three sides of the field and an open south end that gives the structure its curved, U-shaped form.
What is the current seating capacity of Ohio Stadium?
Ohio Stadium’s official capacity is 102,780 as of 2019, making it one of the three largest on-campus football stadiums in the United States and the largest in Ohio.
What is the all-time attendance record at Ohio Stadium?
The record is 110,045, set on November 26, 2016, during the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry game.
Get More from Ohio Stadium
log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Ohio Stadium, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Lectrician2 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.