OSU tailgate help?

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 20, 2008 5:48 PM EDT

We're heading to Columbus this weekend, just wanted to see if anyone had some info they can share on the tailgate environment out there.

Is there a lot or area we should avoid parking in? I saw they have a "visitors" lot available for opposing fans, and it didn't look much further than any other lot there. Thoughts?

Also, any concerns with open containers or things of that nature? While our tailgate doesn't get rowdy enough to attract much attention, I do plan on drinking beer for the better part of the day.

Any thoughts, tips, info, suggestions, comments, concerns, ideas or feedback is welcome. Anyone else from this board heading out?

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tailgating

I have a group of 10 heading out. We saw about that visitor’s lot too, and thats where we plan on going. We’ve heard of bad stories from other students and fans describing how bad visiting fans get treated. (which would explain why they created a visiting fan parking lot). The only bad thing about those lots seem to be that they are farther away from the stadium. There is a shuttle that starts 6 hours before the game though. My group planned on going to Gameday though, so I’m not sure what were going to do about that. I guess just walk.

Other than parking, I don’t know about the rest of the scene. I have to ask my cousin who goes there what he knows. If I find out anything interesting I’ll post it.

"Boy that student section now is up and really making a gigantic amount of noise. You see the sea of white, the white out. Well they are 2 minutes and 28 seconds away from the whiteout of the Buckeyes here tonight." - Ron Franklin

by rmcmillen50 on Oct 20, 2008 7:28 PM EDT reply actions

Cool, much appreciated. It looks like their version of the numbered parking lots are the only ones really close to the stadium, all of the day-of-game parking is a bit of a hike.

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 20, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Game Day Parking

at OSU sucks because it is a city atmosphere. The OSU fans have a fair number of rude people (kinda like we have had recently…). When I was there 2 years ago, I just kept to myself and didn’t get too much shit. If you are in the closed in section of the shoe, be prepared to use port-a-johns and a “pipe and tarp” system to urinate as they spent $110 million but didn’t put in running water!!!!

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Oct 20, 2008 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

Liquor Laws

From my experience, the liquor laws and enforcement of them make OSU a bit dicey. They don’t “officially” allow drinking on campus. If you’re parked on campus, you’ll have to enter discreet mode (I remember red cups were sufficient). I also remember that Penn State fans twice my age were complaining about receiving citations for open containers. So just be careful on that.

Other than that, tailgating there is a good time. Their fans will probably give you a fair amount of shit, but there was a lot of security out there last time. Don’t plan on having the space that you have out in the fields at Penn State. If you park in the visitor lot, which I believe is “lot 3” or something, you’ll be amongst friends. Whether or not you prefer to be in hostile territory, which I personally find more interesting, is up to you.

by shadowfax on Oct 20, 2008 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

is there a link that you can direct me to?

I’m trying to find it online and this parking map just sucks….

http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/Maps/FootballParkingMap.pdf

plus it doesn’t show me where “lot 3” or “visitors” lot is…

by Stately NOVA Lion on Oct 21, 2008 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Nevermind.....FOUND IT....

http://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/fls/17300/pdf/mktg/08_Visiting_Parking.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=17300

by Stately NOVA Lion on Oct 21, 2008 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see you found the visitor info map. That campus map has the absolute worst usability I’ve ever encountered.

by shadowfax on Oct 21, 2008 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Liquor Laws (cont.)

I was also there in ‘06 with a bunch of other PSUers tailgating in an OSU lot on campus (right across the river from the stadium). As soon as we got out of the car we cracked cans and started drinking. Within 3 minutes a bunch of OSU fans came over with a stack of solo cups and told us we pretty much had to use them or we’d get cited for open container. We thanked them, used the cups, and didn’t have a problem the rest of the way. Plenty of cops roaming around, but as long as you had solo cups it seemed ok.

Other than that I had a great experience in ‘06. Gameday will be between the basketball arena and the Shoe if you are interested. Fans were perfectly fine with me and my friends, but I’m thinking it’ll be a different environment with #3PSU in town as opposed to Morelli-led PSU.

by The IC Lion on Oct 21, 2008 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I always . . .

Have tailgated in the bars around the stadium. They set up outdoor screens with other games, bands and they sell beer there too. Great gameday atmosphere.

Columbus is very flat, so it’s very easy to walk around the campus, even if your hotel is a few miles from the stadium, as mine is. Go cups are a good idea although one of my tricks has always been to buy one of those huge ice-T cans they sell now and fill it, pour out half of the tea and fill the rest with bourbon.

Hope you have a great time at the game and that you bring home a Nittany Lion victory!

by CDRS on Oct 21, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

That's what I've basically been told by someone I know down there

Yes, tailgating at Ohio State is becoming more difficult as the laws that have always been on the books are starting to be enforced! Fortunately, there are alternatives… Ohio State is an urban campus located at the corner of Lane Avenue and High Street. On Lane Avenue, there are two major outdoor parties where drinking is permitted. One is called the Rally at Riverwatch in front of the Riverwatch Towers condos, and the other is called Hineygate and is in front of the Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue. Both places check IDs for admission, have live bands and huge TVs that will be showing the game. Also, High Street is the main street of campus, and is lined with sports bars. There is a Buffalo Wild Wings at the corner of Lane Avenue and High Street that is really nice. At the southern edge of campus at the corner of 11th and High Street is the South Campus Gateway complex. There are probably six or so bars / restaurants there; one of my favorites is Eddie George’s Bar & Grill. Yes, you can go to the lot you mentioned which is where all the RV tailgating occurs, but I think you’d be much better off walking Lane Avenue and High Street.

by The JuggerNitt on Oct 21, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember

Before OSU won the 2003 NC, they allowed driinking in the streets, literally. They would block off roads around the stadium and people would be out there with cases of beer.

The outdoor bars are fun. I really liked being able to watch the Penn State game a couple of years back out there on a nice day.

This being a night game though, things may get a little interesting. I would think about wearing my Penn State stuff down there with the late start. I attended one Penn State game with my jersey on back in 2000, but that was a day game, it was pouring and Ohio State led from the start and the game was never in question.

After seeing how the Penn State fans acted last fall during the OSU game here, I’d be careful down there this year.

by CDRS on Oct 22, 2008 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

anyone know

any good spots for underagers to hang out at before the game… like a restaurant nearby? i have a couple of friends tailgating as well that don’t have tickets (that are under 21). where would a good place for them be to go watch the game nearby the stadium.

Meadville, PA born and raised.

by mikeissurreal on Oct 22, 2008 12:36 PM EDT reply actions