Plans for Championship celebration under way

14 and oh COLUMBUS - Plans to celebrate the National Champion Buckeyes are under way at The Ohio State University.

The event, set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, in Ohio Stadium, is free and open to the public. Seating will be first-come, first served, with some limited seating reserved for students.

Gates will open at 11 a.m. Concession stands will be open to purchase a limited menu of food and beverage items, and Ohio State National Championship merchandise also will be available. The program is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.

Below is additional event information.

Parking
• Traffic patterns
The Lane Avenue Bridge is now closed to vehicular traffic and motorists should allow plenty of extra time. The posted detour is north on Olentangy River Road, east on Dodridge, and south on either Neil Avenue or High Street. Pedestrians may cross the river at Lane Avenue, off of Olentangy River Road, via a temporary pedestrian bridge.

• Guest parking
Parking is free of charge for this event. Guests are strongly encouraged to park in lots on West Campus (shuttle service provided), the Schottenstein Center, or the Agricultural campus. The West Campus lots are on Carmack Road, which is west of Kenny Road between Lane Avenue and Kinnear Road. Carmack Road is also accessible south of Lane Avenue between North Star and Kenny roads.

Parking is also available in any campus parking garage, including the Northwest and Tuttle garages; however, some parking in the 12th Avenue and South Cannon garages will be reserved for patients and visitors to the Medical Center.

RV and motorhome parking will only be available near the Schottenstein Center in the Buckeye lots (located just south of Ackerman Road).

Guests are strongly encouraged to vacate the parking lots on campus by 3 p.m. so that parking for other evening events may be accommodated.

• Parking restrictions
General parking will not be permitted in the lots immediately to the east and west of the stadium. Individuals with football season parking passes will not be able to use them for this event. Parking also is restricted to the north and south of St. John Arena. Parking also will not be permitted in the Tuttle surface lots just north of the Blackwell Inn.

• Free shuttles
A free shuttle will provide continuous service from the West Campus lots to the stadium, beginning at 9 a.m. through one hour after the event ends. On West Campus, shuttles will pick up guests at Mount Hall and drop them off at the Sisson Hall footbridge located just west of Drake Union and Ohio Stadium. A complete parking map is available at http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/quickpost/fiestabowl/champscelebration.shtml

• Disability seating
Disability seating will be provided. Details on gate information and location of disability seating will be communicated early next week.

• Disability parking
Disability parking will be on the east side of the stadium. When spaces are filled, guests will be directed to the Tuttle parking garage. Drivers will be required to display a valid OSU disability parking permit or a valid State Disability Placard.

• Security
To avoid lengthy security delays, it is recommended that fans not bring in prohibited and difficult-to-search items such as baby strollers. Prohibited items include coolers, backpacks, large handbags, umbrellas, chair-back seats, banners and signs, mace and similar substances or weapons of any type. Guests are encouraged to bring cameras and video recorders as the coach and team will not be able to provide autographs. Additional permitted items include uncased binoculars, small handbags, pagers, cell phones and additional clothes appropriate for the day’s weather conditions.

• Inclement Weather
Since this is an outdoor event, fans should come dressed for cold weather. January in Ohio tends to be bitter cold and offers possibilities for strong winds, snow, ice or a mixture of any of those elements.

Additional information will be released next week as it becomes available.