Ohio Stadium Tailgating
Tailgating Information
General Tailgating Policies
Trailers, storage units, porta johns, tents, food & beverage, and tailgating activities/equipment may not take up vacant parking spaces, vehicle unloading spaces, crosswalks, pedestrian thoroughfares or interfere with traffic flow within a parking lot, drive lane or street. Drive lanes in parking lots must be maintained at all times - these areas must be kept clear of tailgating equipment so vehicles and emergency personnel may pass through. Vehicle tailgates may not interfere with the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Any tailgating activities may be required to move, at the discretion of the University, if it impedes pedestrian or vehicle flow, or the safety of others.
Those purchasing a parking space are responsible for the functions & activities they host in their parking spaces. Vehicle and ALL tailgate activities must fit within the 8.5' x 15' space provided in surface lots and garages. Any vehicles larger than the above spaces will be required to purchase an RV Parking Permit.
There are no in and out privileges in any lots or garage. All parking permits (including season permits and day of game purchases) allow one entrance per vehicle. The saving of parking spaces within a lot is not permitted. Parking spaces are first-come, first-served.
Grilling
Charcoal grilling is NOT permitted anywhere on the Ohio State University campus, including tailgating lots, garages, grass area, etc. Liquid propane grills ARE permitted on campus as long as the following safety protocols listed here: OSU Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Tent & Grilling Policies. Grills should be placed at least 10 feet from any structure. Open burning, including but not limited to fire pits, fire rings, stoves, or chimneys, are not allowed on campus, nor within the City of Columbus.
Open Container Laws
Possession and consumption of alcohol are subject to the laws and regulations of the State of Ohio and/or City of Columbus which state, among others: “No person shall have in the person’s possession an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor in any public place.” Law Enforcement Officers enforce all applicable laws. Complete State of Ohio laws regarding open containers and The Ohio State University Alcohol Policies can be found by clicking on the appropriate links.
Portable Toilets
Personal/single Port-A-Johns may be delivered no sooner than Thursday at 4:00pm prior to a home game. Typically, your vendor will place them in a nearby area within your lot that won’t disrupt daily operations. On Saturday mornings, you will have to push/move your portable toilet into your tailgating location. It must fit within your parking space OR may go into an adjacent “dead” space that is not utilized for gameday parking, vehicle traffic, or walkways. Any tailgating activities, including portable toilets, may be required to move at the discretion of the University if it impedes pedestrian or vehicle flow. All portable toilets must be removed on Sunday. The University does not require the use of a certain portable toilet vendor.
RV Parking
RV Parking is available in the Gray Lots & Buckeye Lots near the Schottenstein Center. An RV Permit must be purchased in order to park in the RV Lots. Generally, RV Parking is only sold on a Season Permit basis. There may be some single game RV parking permits available from some games. Click here to view any currently available single game RV parking options. All RVs, your tailgate equipment, and any other vehicles (towing vehicle or towed vehicle) must fit within the assigned space of approximately 40’x60’. RV parking permits do not allow in and out privileges for towing or towed vehicles. Each permit allows one entrance to the lot (towing/towed vehicles should arrive all together). RVs must exit the parking facilities no later than 10:00am on the Sunday following a game day. Check out our full tailgating policies and our full traffic & parking information.
Signage/Advertising
No bills, signs, banners or tent frames may be attached to University furniture, trees, or light poles. Freestanding signs must be secure and safe, and be no larger than 4 by 4 feet. No signs causing ground penetration are permitted without prior approval. Canvassing (including but not limited to product sampling, flyering, coupon distribution, etc. ), solicitation of funds, sales of products/subscriptions are prohibited on the university campuses, grounds, parking areas or in university buildings.
Tents & Canopies
Tents/fencing requiring staking are not permitted without prior approval from the University. It is recommended that expandable 10×10 “pop-up” tents using weights (as opposed to staking) be used. Tents may be set up NO EARLIER than 5:00pm on the Thursday prior to a home football game in grass areas around campus. Tents may not be erected inside parking lots until after 5:00am on gamedays. Tents must be removed by NOON on the day after the home football (Sunday). Guests who are interested in setting up tents or inflatables and grilling at their tailgate should adhere to the OSU Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Event Policies. Many tent types and sizes will require permitting through the state of Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance – there are no exceptions to this policy. In general, these tents will require a state permit and state inspection:
Temporary tents larger than 400 square feet require a permit from the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance
Canopies (opened without side walls or drops on 75% or more of the perimeter) larger than 700 square feet require a permit from the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance
Tents or groups of tents under one permit shall be separated from another tent or group of tents, or other existing structures by a minimum distance of 20 feet.
