The "Horseshoe" - One of the country's great stadiums

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Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes, was dedicated in 1922. The horseshoe-shaped structure is one of college football's most recognizable landmarks.

Over the years, more than 30 million spectators have passed through the Ohio Stadium archways to see the Buckeyes play. Between 1951 and 1973, Ohio State led the nation in attendance 20 times and finished second the other two years.

Built at a cost of slightly more than $1 million and funded largely through private donations, the stadium had an original seating capacity of 66,210. Skeptics doubted that it would ever be filled, but those fears were dispelled on Oct. 21, 1922, when an overflow crowd of 71,385 attended the dedication game against Michigan. Inevitably, expansion followed, with the addition of field and box seats, and later the south stands.

Various surfaces have been used to cover the Ohio Stadium floor. Between 1922 and 1970 it was natural grass. In 1971, thanks to the generosity of former OSU player Lou Fischer, Astro Turf was installed. In 1979, a second artificial carpet, this time Super Turf, was put down. Prior to the 1990 season, Prescription Athletic Turf, the current surface, was installed.

In 1984, a new scoreboard was installed in the south end of the stadium. The cost of the scoreboard was $2.6 million, more than double the original cost of the stadium.

Athletic Director Andy Geiger's pet project - the expansion and modernization of Ohio Stadium at an estimated $150 million began in May 1998 with a three month utilities relocation project. Actual construction began in December 1998 following the football season and continued until the beginning of the 2001 football season.

The stadium's capacity was expanded to 98,000. Jesse Owens Track was removed and the field was lowered 14 feet, with a permanent seating tier (known as AA deck) reaching from the end of A deck to the playing surface, stopping 3 1/2 feet above the level of the field.

A 40-foot shell was constructed on the outside of the east and west sides to allow the rim of C deck to be raised to add 17 rows and to make room for the many amenities being added. To maintain "The Horseshoe", the grand half-rotunda entrance in the north end (Block-O) and the four towers - two flanking the rotunda and one each on the southeast and southwest end - will remain. The towers on the south end were completely gutted and refurbished with modern home and visiting dressing room facilities and other facilities.

The scoreboard, added to the south end in 1984, was torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art scoreboard and JumboTron system.

Now in its eighth decade, Ohio Stadium, nestled on the banks of the Olentangy River, truly is synonymous with college football.