University prepares for football game vs. Texas

The national college football spotlight will shine on Columbus and Ohio Stadium on Saturday (9/10) as Ohio State hosts the University of Texas for the first time. The sold-out game begins at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ABC. The network also will broadcast its halftime show, which normally originates in-studio in New York, from Ohio State. In addition, ESPN College GameDay will set up just north of Ohio Stadium to broadcast college football updates.

The game promises to bring large crowds to campus to enjoy a day of outstanding college football traditions in a safe and family-friendly atmosphere. While many of the traffic, parking, and security policies in place for the Texas game are no different from those for all home games, officials are making plans to accommodate the large crowd expected for the game.

Officials anticipate heavy demand for parking and have made alternate arrangements to park both campers and vehicles once campus lots become full.

Fans can learn more about policies on parking, tickets, tailgating stadium policies, and security at http://athletics.osu.edu/gameday/. The web site is updated each week.

Parking advice: arrive early

Fans should plan to arrive earlier than normal and expect very heavy traffic. Fans accustomed to arriving two hours before kickoff may find their usual parking spot full.

Fans are advised to expect delays and allow extra time to get into campus. Day-of-game parking lots open at 7 a.m. Parking is $10 (no charge with an OSU parking permit). Free bus service from west campus begins at 8 a.m. and runs continuously until one hour after the game. Traffic control officers will be in place beginning at 10 a.m.

Camper Parking

Officials expect unusually high demand for camper parking. Campers may park on campus in designated lots after 4 p.m. Friday (9/9). A 2005 football parking map that shows the lots is at http://tp.osu.edu/Maps/FootballParkingMap2005.pdf.

Owners of campers parked on campus before 4 p.m. Friday will be asked to move their vehicle off campus or receive a citation.

The following options are available for those who wish to bring their campers before 4 p.m. Friday.

*Ohio Expo Center
Camper parking is $22.00/day (noon to noon)
COTA bus ride to and from Ohio Stadium is $1.00/person (day of game only)
The Ohio Expo Center's campgrounds have water, electric, and dump/fill facilities.
For more information, please visit the Ohio Expo Center web site at http://www.ohioexpocenter.com/oec/oec2_3.htm.

*Ohio State Parks and Recreation
There are many parks in the Columbus area that provide full-service camping locations. To view different parks in the Columbus area, see http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/parks/facilitiesmaps/ohiocamping.htm.

Day of Game Parking Information

Due to the number of expected fans at the OSU vs. Texas game, alternative parking options will be available for all vehicles if parking availability reaches full capacity.
All vehicles, including campers, will be redirected to the Ohio Expo Center for parking.
Each vehicle will be charged $10.00 to park
COTA bus ride to and from Ohio Stadium is $1.00/person.

Shuttle Information

For fans parking on West Campus, a free shuttle will provide continuous service beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing through one hour after the game. Shuttles pick up and drop off fans at Mount Hall on West Campus and the Sisson Hall footbridge located just west of Drake Union and Ohio Stadium.

For additional football parking information, see http://tp.osu.edu/alerts/texasfootballgame.shtml and http://tp.osu.edu/Events/football.shtml.

Tickets

The game is a sell-out and Ohio Stadium (capacity 102,329) will be packed with fans. Officials advise fans that tickets purchased from ticket scalpers may not be valid. Only tickets purchased or received from the Athletics Ticket Office are guaranteed to be valid.

Fans using discounted faculty, staff or student tickets will be required to show appropriate OSU ID (BuckID) along with their ticket prior to entering Ohio Stadium. Fans with discounted tickets but no BuckID will be turned away.

Tickets that are reported as lost or stolen will be voided and will receive an invalid scan at the gates. Anyone with an invalid scan will be turned away.

Stadium Policies

Gates to Ohio Stadium open at 6 p.m. Officials remind fans to travel light. All bags, small purses and containers are subject to search, and will slow fan entry to the stadium. Instead of carrying your jacket or blanket, put it over your shoulders.

Items that are not permitted in Ohio Stadium include weapons of any type, large bags or backpacks, food, beverages, coolers or other containers, video cameras, cameras with professional lenses, televisions, radios without headsets, chairback seats, banners, signs or other noisemakers.

Fans requiring back support for health reasons should enter gates 9, 14 or 25. If you provide a doctor's note demonstrating specific need you may enter with a chairback seat at these gates. All other fans with special health or medical needs should also enter gates 9, 14 or 25.

Fan behavior before, during and after each game reflects on the university and the community. Fans are asked to continue to conduct themselves in a manner that allows all fans to enjoy the game in a safe, family-friendly atmosphere.

Tailgating and other traditions

Policies that are in place for this and every home game will be enforced. Fans are expected to obey all state and local laws; treat fellow fans – including those supporting the opposing team – with civility; and respect the property of others.

*Before, during and after the game, law enforcement agencies will continue to enforce state laws regarding use and possession of alcohol. Both Columbus Police and OSU Police will issue citations or make arrests for violations of the laws prohibiting open containers of alcohol in public areas, including university parking lots and garages. Persons engaging in underage drinking, public indecency, disorderly conduct and other violations are subject to arrest.

*In accordance with fire codes, there is no grilling inside of parking garages, including the rooftop level. Grills (propane or charcoal) are permitted on surface parking lots.

*Columbus Division of Fire inspectors will inspect tents to enforce a city code that requires a permit for tents larger than 200 square feet. In addition there is no cooking permitted inside or underneath a tent or awning.