The south zone scoreboards during the Ohio State vs Ohio University game on Sept. 13, 2025 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Faith Schneider | Managing Editor of Design.
When fans return to Ohio Stadium for both the 2026 and 2027 football seasons, the 103-year-old venue will look and sound different.
The newest development is a new south end zone videoboard and an updated stadium audio system which is part of the second phase of a $22.8 million renovation project approved by the Ohio State Board of Trustees June 3—set to be completed before the 2027 season.
Construction and professional services will be funded through auxiliary funds and university debt, according to an Ohio State news release.
Mike Penner, executive associate athletic director for internal operations at Ohio State said the stadium was due for the services, especially as technology continues to improve.
“The technology is just dated, right?” Penner said. “We put in the audio system back in 2001. The South video board was installed in 2012, so you know it’s 14 years old, and technology gets better.”
Penner said the athletic department plans to take out the current speakers on the sides of the videoboard and make the screen wider. The new speakers will run along the top.?
New ribbon boards on the east and west sides of the stadium were approved in December 2025 as a part of phase one, and will be installed before an AC/DC concert on July 15 held in Ohio Stadium, before the 2026 season begins, with the north videoboard following soon after, Penner said.
“We know that the goal is to get the east and west ribbon boards done before the AC/DC concert,” Penner said. “Then the north videoboard will be installed before the season.”
Penner said with how much the stadium is used for outside events like concerts, getting new turf is just another thing they won’t have to worry about in the future.?
“Every time you cover the field, you push the fibers [in the turf] down, and the older the field gets, the harder for those fibers to stand back up when you have it covered,” Penner said.
For the 2026 season, Ohio Stadium is also introducing premium, portable seating in the south end.
“[The premium seating] also marks a small key step in the ongoing modernization of Ohio Stadium – ensuring this iconic and wonderful venue continues to evolve while honoring the traditions that make it so special,” Ross Bjork said in the release. “We’re dedicated to making every visit to the ’Shoe unforgettable, and this enhancement is another meaningful stride toward delivering the best possible game day experience.”????
The seating renovation will include the construction of nine field-level suites and 400 chair-back seats above them. Fans within the section will also have access to the 1922 Club, a hospitality service with food and beverages, private restrooms and a climate-controlled environment.
“I want to thank our incredible staff across football operations, equipment, and facilities for their tireless efforts in bringing these projects to life,” Bjork said in the release. “Together, these initiatives position Ohio State as the premier brand in college sports for the 2026 season and beyond.”
The Buckeyes will also compete on a new playing surface in the 2026 season, including enhanced branding opportunities. The field will be sponsored by Safelite and will feature Shaw Sports Turf’s Forge Series?, a turf product designed to meet NFL standards, installed by The Motz Group.
Head coach Ryan Day stated in an athletics department release that the new turf is a welcome upgrade to Ohio Stadium and will help to “maintain the safety and performance of our players on gamedays.”?
The focus behind the changes in the Horseshoe revolve around creating a better atmosphere for the fans.
“We just want to be able to make sure that we’re providing good experiences for the fans and trying to provide them for those fans who want an elevated experience,” Penner said.
