Ohio Stadium Security Measures – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 2, 2001
Athletic Director Andy Geiger’s Press Conference Video
Ohio Stadium Security Update!
As a matter of clarification, small hand-held radios (can be held in the palm of the hand or clip on a belt) and radio head sets will be allowed at Saturday’s Northwestern-Ohio State football game. Additionally, seat cushions will be allowed as long as they do not have zippers and are not in any kind of outside casing. Those ticket holders bringing radios may be asked to turn them on before being allowed to enter and should understand that process may require extra time for everyone involved.
Please allow for additional time, an extra 20-30 minutes, toenter Ohio Stadium prior to kickoff. It will be necessary andappreciated for our fans to cooperate with the requests of securityofficers, ushers and ticket takers in a timely manner to avoiddelays at all points of entry. All persons, including fans, mediaand Ohio State Athletics Department personnel, will be subject tosearch. No one without a ticket or credential will be allowed intothe stadium. All vehicles are required to have a parking pass toenter appropriate parking areas. There will be no exceptions. Therewill be an increased presence of law enforcement officers in andaround Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Department of Athletics hasenjoyed the complete cooperation of the Columbus Fire Department,OSU Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Franklin County,the State Patrol of Ohio, the American Red Cross and several otherlocal and state agencies. The precautions that we are putting inplace are simply in response to recent events. No backpacks, fannypacks, coolers, bags, containers of any size, chair-back seats,televisions or cameras will be allowed in the stadium. No bags ortotes containing clothing items of any kind will be allowed in thestadium. Pagers, cell phones and small purses are permissible, asare binoculars if they are uncased and worn around the neck. Allpurses are subject to search. As always, banners, signs andnoisemakers will not be allowed. Appropriate apparel for theweather may be worn or carried through the gates. Fans with specialhealth and medical related problems should use Gates 9, 14 and 25.All containers and bags, however, will be subject to search. Onlyitems required for health and medical problems will be permittedthrough the gates. The stadium will be locked down at 5 p.m. Fridayand will not open until 2 hours prior to kick off on Saturday.Anyone with an item which does not pass security measures will beasked to take the item back to his or her vehicle or dispose of theitem. There will be no holding areas for such items.
What Ohio State has done to notify fans about security measures for Ohio Stadium
Signs will be placed on Ohio Stadium and inside St. John Arenato help explain Ohio Stadium security restrictions. Lettersexplaining the security guidelines have been sent to season ticketholders and to those who purchased single game tickets this year.Space has been purchased in the Ohio State Lantern outliningsecurity measures. It is important for our fans to realize if theyare in possession of anything other than their ticket, it probablywill not be allowed into the stadium or it will be searched. Thesecurity measures instituted at Ohio Stadium were developed jointlywith community leaders and the Ohio State Department of Athletics.The Ohio State Department of Athletics apologizes for anyinconvenience these restrictions cause our fans, media and staff.However, we feel these measures are appropriate and necessary forthe safety of our valued patrons and those associated with eventson The Ohio State University campus.
