Eugene D. Smith
Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director
Over the past 10 years, the Department of Athletics has examined and implemented several enhancements to the current seating model in an effort to improve the overall customer experience for season ticket holders. Looking to modernize our current system, we analyzed our annual giving program, ticket pricing and parking options to create a model that would provide season ticket holders with the greatest advantages. This new and simplified model provides season ticket holders with more flexibility in accessing season tickets and parking.
Beginning with the 2022 season, the current annual giving model will be replaced with the Per-Seat Contribution (PSC) model whereby season ticket holders pay an annual PSC to the Buckeye Club in order to qualify for season tickets. Under the new model, the stadium is divided into six pricing zones – each with a different PSC (based on location) and ticket cost. In addition beginning with the 2023 season, we will also be implementing an online Parking Lot Selection Process.
Many of your questions may be answered in our FAQ section, but if not, please contact the Buckeye Club via email at buckeyeclub@osu.edu or by phone at (614) 292-9908 or the Athletics Ticket Office via email at athletic.tix@osu.edu or by phone at 1-800-GO-BUCKS. Please note that we are working remotely until further notice. Staff are available via phone and email Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm to answer any questions that you may have.
Our success would not be possible without your generosity. Thank you for your continued support of The Ohio State University.
Go Buckeyes!
The per-seat contribution (PSC) is the minimum amount per seat that is required to purchase tickets in designated sections (Zone 1 – Zone 5). With the shift to this new model not all sections in Ohio Stadium will require a per-seat contribution (Zone 6). In these sections only the cost of the season tickets will be required.
All per-seat contributions will go to the Buckeye Club to pay for the grant-in-aid for student-athlete scholarships.
The Buckeye Club is the annual giving program of The Ohio State University Department of Athletics. Contributions to the Buckeye Club are used to cover the grant-in-aid costs to our student-athletes, which encompasses tuition, books and room and board. In 2022, the Department of Athletics transferred over $29 million to the university to cover the grant-in-aid costs of our student-athletes.
The Department of Athletics is entirely self-supporting and provides over 1,000 student-athletes participating in 36 sports an unparalleled experience to help achieve their academic and athletic goals. Your generous support in helping to cover those grant-in-aid costs is vital to the success of the current student-athletes while laying the foundation for future Buckeyes.
Michael C. Eicher
Senior Vice President for Advancement
President, The Ohio State University Foundation
Zone |
Season Ticket |
Seat Donation |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $944 | $1,500 | $2,444 |
| Zone 2 | $846 | $1,000 | $1,846 |
| Zone 3 | $750 | $500 | $1,250 |
| Zone 4 | $650 | $250 | $900 |
| Zone 5 | $555 | $100 | $655 |
| Zone 6 | $398 | $398 |
Beginning with the 2023 football season, an Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee of $2 per ticket, per game will be added on top of the ticket price. The funds generated from the Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee will be earmarked for ongoing deferred maintenance projects necessary to extend the life of the stadium.
Molly Ranz Calhoun
President and CEO of The Ohio State University Alumni Association
Zone |
Season Ticket |
Seat Donation |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $944 | $1,500 | $2,444 |
| Zone 2 | $846 | $1,000 | 1,846 |
| Zone 3 | $750 | $500 | $1,250 |
| Zone 4 | $488 | $125 | $613 |
| Zone 5 | $417 | $50 | $467 |
| Zone 6 | $275 | $275 |
Beginning with the 2023 football season, an Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee of $2 per ticket, per game will be added on top of the ticket price. The funds generated from the Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee will be earmarked for ongoing deferred maintenance projects necessary to extend the life of the stadium.
Zone |
Season Ticket |
Seat Donation |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $774 | $1,200 | $1,974 |
| Zone 2 | $693 | $800 | $1,493 |
| Zone 3 | $615 | $400 | $1,015 |
| Zone 4 | $533 | $200 | $733 |
| Zone 5 | $456 | $80 | $536 |
| Zone 6 | $325 | $325 |
Beginning with the 2023 football season, an Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee of $2 per ticket, per game will be added on top of the ticket price. The funds generated from the Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee will be earmarked for ongoing deferred maintenance projects necessary to extend the life of the stadium.
Zone |
Season Ticket |
Seat Donation |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $708 | $750 | $1,458 |
| Zone 2 | $635 | $500 | $1,135 |
| Zone 3 | $563 | $250 | $813 |
| Zone 4 | $488 | $125 | $613 |
| Zone 5 | $417 | $50 | $467 |
| Zone 6 | $275 | $325 |
Beginning with the 2023 football season, an Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee of $2 per ticket, per game will be added on top of the ticket price. The funds generated from the Ohio Stadium Preservation Fee will be earmarked for ongoing deferred maintenance projects necessary to extend the life of the stadium.
The modernized Buckeye Club giving structure will include the Pay Forward Society, two lifetime Athletics giving levels and eight annual giving levels.
This structure will be used for priority to determine access to seating, parking, away and postseason tickets.
Priority:
The deadline to determine your Athletics giving level and receive priority points for the 2023 season will be March 1, 2023.
The Athletics giving level and priority points deadline will shift from Dec. 31 of each year to March 1.
Joe Buckeye and Jessica Buckeye are both season ticket holders:
Joe Buckeye gives $400 to the Buckeye Club to qualify for his four season tickets in Zone 5 and has a total of 500 priority points.
Jessica Buckeye has two season tickets in Zone 2 and a non-proximity parking pass (total $3,000 contribution requirement to the Buckeye Club) and has a total of 300 priority points.
Even though Jessica has fewer priority points than Joe Buckeye (300pts vs 500pts), she is at a higher giving level (B1G Champions – $3,000 vs Horseshoe – $400), Jessica’s priority rank is higher than Joe’s.
Jennifer Buckeye has four season tickets in Zone 1 and a premier parking pass (total $6,000 to the Buckeye Club).
John Buckeye and Jane Buckeye are both season ticket holders:
John Buckeye has two season tickets in Zone 4 and has a total of 500 priority points.
Jane Buckeye has two season tickets in Zone 4 and has a total of 400 priority points.
John and Jane are at the same Buckeye Club giving level and are ranked within the Scarlet level based on their priority points.
Jillian Buckeye and Jason Buckeye are both season ticket holders:
Jillian Buckeye has two season tickets in Zone 5 and has a total of 500 points
Jason Buckeye is a President’s Club Lifetime donor, has two season tickets in Zone 6 and has a total of 600 points
Jillian and Jason are at the same Buckeye Club giving level and are ranked within the Horseshoe level based on their priority points.
There are three tiers of season parking for football:
Premier (West Stadium, East Stadium, South Field House, East Tuttle)
– $6,000 annual contribution per pass (Combination of per-seat contributions and additional charitable giving to the Buckeye Club. Athletics pledge payments do not count towards the required parking contribution total).
– Pass holders in these lots will need to make the minimum contribution to qualify for parking in these lots.
– Parking passes associated with premium seat contracts are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
Proximity (North Riverbank, South Riverbank, Tuttle Garage, South Lincoln)
– $5,000 annual contribution per pass (Combination of per-seat contributions and additional charitable giving to the Buckeye Club. Athletics pledge payments do not count towards the required parking contribution total).
– Pass holders in these lots will need to make the minimum contribution to qualify for parking in these lots.
– Parking passes associated with premium seat contracts or Athletics major gift agreements (where lifetime parking benefits were assessed) are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
Non-Proximity (Fawcett Center, Schottenstein Center, Sisson, North West Garage)
– $3,000 annual contribution per pass (Combination of per-seat contributions and additional charitable giving to the Buckeye Club. Athletics pledge payments do not count towards the required parking contribution total).
– Pass holders in these lots will need to make the minimum contribution to qualify for parking in these lots.
– Parking passes associated with premium seat contracts or Athletics major gift agreements (where lifetime parking benefits were assessed) are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
– Pass holders grandfathered into non-proximity lots due to previous parking audits/adjustments are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
Per-seat contributions, along with charitable giving to the Buckeye Club will count towards parking pass eligibility.
RV parking will remain at $3,000 qualifying contribution for each pass.
Priority ranking is first determined by your Athletics giving level and then priority points within each level.
Donors within each giving level will be ranked based on their priority points.
Minimum contributions to qualify for specific parking lots do not guarantee access and will be based on availability.
Current seat locations will be retained through the 2024 season as long as seats and corresponding per-seat contributions are renewed by all future published deadlines.
As a reminder, faculty/staff members select their seats annually.
November 2022
2023 Per-Seat Contributions and football season ticket invoices available online.
March 1, 2023
Deadline for public season ticket holders to enroll in a payment plan or pay your 2023 football season ticket invoice in full.
2023 Athletics giving level and priority points deadline (general public).
Spring 2023
2023 Seat Selection.
2023 Parking Selection Process
Future Seasons
The next full seat selection of Ohio Stadium will occur prior to the 2025 season.
The next full parking selection for season parking will occur prior to the 2027 season.
The per-seat contribution is the minimum amount per seat that is required to purchase tickets in designated sections (Zone 1 –Zone 5).
Not all sections of the stadium will require a per-seat contribution (Zone 6).
All per-seat contributions go to the Buckeye Club to pay for the grant-in-aid for student-athlete scholarships.
All premium seat customers (Loge, Suites, Club Seats) do not have to pay a per-seat contribution.
Cost effective for the majority of season ticket holders. Lower entry point, several sections do not require a per-seat contribution, and lower priced season tickets make it more affordable for the majority of season ticket holders.
Simple and easy to understand. Ticket prices and corresponding per-seat contributions can be easily calculated by season ticket holders.
Provides flexibility for season ticket holders to select seats in different priced sections based on their desired location.
Ticket prices and zones are reflective of demand.
If you select a seat in a Zone 1 – Zone 5, you will be required to pay the corresponding per-seat contribution for those sections.
If you select a seat in a section that does not require a per-seat contribution (Zone 6), you will not have to pay a per-seat contribution.
Beginning with the 2022 season, all qualifying contributions for season tickets and parking must be made to the Buckeye Club via your per-seat contribution and/or parking qualification. You may still give to a non-athletic fund to receive President’s Club recognition and increase your priority points. However, President’s Club annual and lifetime donors will no longer qualify for tickets and parking through President’s Club recognition beginning with their 2021 contributions.
Suites, Loge and Club Seat holders will not be impacted by the per-seat contribution model. They will retain their contracted seats as long as they continue to fulfill the obligations in your contract.
Beginning with the 2022 season, priority for away and post season games will be based on ticket availability and be determined by giving level and then priority points within each level.
Beginning with the 2022 season, priority is determined through a combination of lifetime and annual giving to Athletics.
The Pay Forward Society recognizes benefactors who have provided single gifts of $5 million or more to Ohio State Athletics projects. Total lifetime giving to Athletics of $5 million or more does not qualify for this level of priority without a minimum single gift of $5 million included in the overall total.
Lifetime giving levels include total overall giving to Athletics (excluding planned giving).
Annual giving levels include all giving to Buckeye Club, per-seat contributions, Athletics pledge payments ($100k overall pledges or more) and football premium seat payments (excluding planned giving and ticket/parking money).
Priority is first determined by Athletics giving level and then priority points within each level. Donors within each giving level are ranked based on their priority points.
For example, donors at the Pay Forward Society will receive first priority followed by Director’s Level, Excellence Level, Hall of Fame Level and on down.
Priority will be used for when selecting season tickets, season parking, away and post season ticket allocation.
Pursuant to tax law changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, per-seat contributions and payments made for premium seating are not considered charitable gifts.
Any gifts above the minimum per-seat contribution amount would be considered charitable.
Annual giving levels include all giving to Buckeye Club, per-seat contributions, Athletics pledge payments ($100k overall pledges or more) and football premium seat payments (excluding planned giving and ticket/parking money).
Planned gifts are not included in annual giving totals but will count for priority points.
Lifetime giving levels only include cumulative giving to Athletics (excludes ticket/parking money).
Planned gifts are not included in cumulative lifetime giving totals but will count for priority points.
The Pay Forward Society recognizes benefactors who have provided single gifts of $5 million or more to Ohio State Athletics projects. Total lifetime giving to Athletics of $5 million or more does not qualify for this level of priority without a minimum single gift of $5 million included in the overall total.
Beginning with the 2022 season, the following point calculation will apply:
(click the table to enlarge)
The deadline to determine your Athletics giving level and receive priority points for the 2023 season will be March 1, 2023.
The Athletics giving level and priority points deadline will shift from Dec. 31 of each year to March 1.
You will receive points (1 point for every $10) for any remaining balances on Athletics pledges of $100,000 or more. Athletics pledges of $100,000 or more exclude Buckeye Club, per-seat contributions and pledges to non-Athletics units.
The best way to improve your ranking within each giving level is to make your contribution to the Buckeye Club by March 1, 2023. Your priority points ranking within each giving level as of March 1, 2023 will determine the order in which you will choose your seats and parking lot along with your priority for away/post-season tickets.
If you are interested in increasing your support of Ohio State Athletics, or for more information on accruing and/or improving your giving level and priority points, please contact the Buckeye Club via email at buckeyeclub@osu.edu or by phone at (614) 292-9908.
Per-seat contributions, along with charitable giving to the Buckeye Club, count towards parking pass eligibility.
There is no limit on the number of season tickets that can be purchased on an account. Each seat purchased in Zone 1-Zone 5 will have a required per seat donation associated with it. The maximum number of tickets that can be selected in one selection window is 16 tickets. Additional tickets will need to be selected in separate selection windows.
There are several sections of the stadium that do not require a per-seat contribution. In those sections, you only need to pay the cost of the season tickets.
Per-seat contributions will be refundable but any charitable contributions to the Buckeye Club are non-refundable.
Benefits received for paying the minimum per-seat contribution for a specific section or making the minimum parking qualifying contribution are not guaranteed and are based on availability.
Seat locations for the 2022 season will be retained through the 2024 season as long as seats and corresponding per-seat contributions are renewed by all future published deadlines. As a reminder, faculty/staff members select their seats annually.
New season ticket holders for the 2023 season will also receive a selection window in the spring based first on their giving level and then priority points within each level. When your seat selection window opens, you will be able to select any available seat in any available section of Ohio Stadium.
The Faculty/Staff and Varsity O Football sections are limited only to tickets qualified as a benefit of being a member of those designated groups. Selecting public seats and Faculty/Staff/Varsity O seats together may only be done in the public season ticket sections, based on your giving level first and then priority points within each level.
When your selection window opens, you will have the opportunity to pick these seats, depending on available inventory.
Each club seat holder and loge box holder will retain their contracted seats as long as they continue to fulfill the obligations in your contract.
The Ohio State Football Virtual Venue™ allows season ticket holders to choose seats during a specific window of time. Each full season ticket holder is assigned a scheduled window of time in which to log-in to their online ticket account and choose their seats. A 3D view of Ohio Stadium from the seats will be available to preview prior to choosing your seats. Appointment times (seat selection windows) will be assigned based on giving level and then priority points within each level. Ticket holders in the highest giving level will select first. Seat selection windows will be staggered, every 15 minutes. You may select seats at any time after your window opens until the published ending date, but the group immediately following yours in priority order may begin selecting seats starting 15 minutes after your selection window begins.
With the online seat selection process, each account holder is given an appointment time for seating based on their respective priority ranking.
Any groups wanting to sit together will need to coordinate their selection windows and pick when the last person in the group’s window opens.
If you’re using a computer, please make sure it meets these guidelines:
The next planned full re-seating of Ohio Stadium will occur prior to the 2025 season. As a reminder, faculty/staff members select their seats annually.
As in past years, you will receive your ticket renewal email and will complete the online ticket renewal process during the month of March. If you submit payment in full or enter into a payment plan by the ticket invoice deadline, you will receive your seat selection time shortly after the renewal period has ended.
If you are adding season tickets to your account, you will pay for the additional season tickets and corresponding per-seat contributions at the time of your seat selection.
If you select a new seat location during your selection window, you will also pay any additional per-seat contributions and ticket costs associated with your new seats.
If you want to make a donation that will impact your priority for the 2023 season, you should make your Buckeye Club contribution by March 1, 2023.
If you are adding season tickets to your account, you will pay for the additional season tickets and corresponding per-seat contributions at the time of your seat selection.
If you select a new seat location during your selection window, you will also pay any additional per-seat contributions and ticket costs associated with your new seats.
For priority points/giving information: Contact the Buckeye Club via email to buckeyeclub@osu.edu or by phone at (614) 292-9908.
For season ticket renewals and seat selection information: Contact the Athletics Ticket Office via email to tix@osu.edu, by live chat or by phone at 1-800-GO-BUCKS (462-8257).
Staff are available via phone and email Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm to answer any questions that you may have.
Beginning with the 2023 season, all public season parking pass holders will receive a selection window and will need to select their parking lot through an online selection process. Individual space assignments outside of the RV lots will continue to be determined by parking staff upon arrival to the lot on game day, but you will select the lot(s) you wish to park in.
All current club seat, suite and loge parking passes will be automatically allocated into their current lots and will not need to be selected during the parking lot selection.
Priority ranking is first determined by Athletics giving level and then priority points within each level. Donors within each giving level will be ranked based on their priority points.
(click the table to enlarge)
Everyone with a season parking pass will select their parking lot prior to the 2023 season during the same timeframe as your seat selection window.
If you have a “grandfathered” season parking pass (Proximity, Non-Proximity, RV parking only), you will maintain your eligibility to purchase that pass without the required qualifying contribution.
Parking passes associated with Athletics major gift agreements (where lifetime parking benefits were assessed) are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
Pass holders grandfathered into non-proximity lots due to previous parking audits/adjustments are exempt from the annual contribution requirement.
In order to select a pass in the premier parking lots a qualifying contribution is required for each pass.
All season parking pass holders will still need to select their lot during the online selection process.
Parking lots will be selected based on availability and determined first by your Athletics giving level and then priority points within each level.
The contributions listed are the minimum requirements needed to qualify for the opportunity to select parking.
All current club seat, suite and loge parking passes will be automatically allocated into their current lots and will not need to be selected during the parking lot selection.
All RV parking pass holders will receive a selection window, based on their Athletics giving level and then their priority points within each giving level to select a space within the RV season lot.
