Ohio Stadium Centennial “The Shoe” Turns 100

Ohio Stadium, built between August 1921 and October 1922, received immediate acclaim for its innovative architectural features. Its reinforced concrete construction, double-deck seating, and open-ended horseshoe design were so imaginative that Ohio architect Howard Dwight Smith was awarded an Exhibition Gold Medal for “excellence in public works” by the American Institute of Architects. Dedicated at the October 21, 1922, OSU-Michigan game, the new stadium boasted a seating capacity over 66,000, although temporary stands pushed that number above 72,000. Fans nicknamed the new stadium “The Shoe” or “The Horseshoe” in celebration of its unique shape. Over the ensuing century, renovations and additions added press boxes, elevators, address systems, scoreboards, lighting, and additional seating capacity while maintaining the basic structure of the original stadium. In 1974, Ohio Stadium was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[Side B]: Architect: Howard Dwight Smith. Contractor: E. H. Latham Company. Groundbreaking: August 3, 1921. Opening Game: October 7, 1922 . 1922 Statistics: 754 feet long x 597 feet wide x 107 feet tall. Capacity = 63,000. Expanded: 1948, 1991, 2001, 2014. 2022 Statistics: 919 feet long x 679 feet wide x 136 feet high. Capacity = 102,780. Ohio Stadium Dedication October 21, 1922.