Ohio State will update the main videoboard for football games as part of a series of renovations to Ohio Stadium.
The university’s board of trustees on June 3 approved the second phase of a $31 million project that upgrades the videoboard atop the south stands and replaces the audio system. It is expected to be finished by the football season in 2027.
The current board, which measures 42 feet by 125 feet, was installed along with ribbon boards in 2012.
The athletic department’s plans largely include LED upgrades to the screen, and it will be slightly wider due to the removal of the speakers that are on the sides of the board.
“With modern technology, it’ll be brighter. It’ll be more crisp,” athletic director Ross Bjork said.
The initial phase of the project, which was approved last year, included a new video board in the north end zone, as well as ribbon boards on the east and west sides and video boards in B-deck. It is scheduled to be completed later in 2026 ahead of the upcoming season.
Bjork said the LED screen on the board in the stadium’s north end will offer spectators a preview of the enhanced visuals that are due to arrive on the larger south board in the following year.
“It’ll make the south board sort of stand out,” Bjork said before relaying a question he implied he’s been asked numerous times – and answering that question. “‘Hey, when is that going to be replaced?’ The screen is going to look 10 times better.”
The scale of the project kept Ohio State from completing it over a single offseason. In addition to the main videoboard, the upgrades in the south end include doubling the height of the ribbon boards that stretch across the stands and adding more signage to recognize donors.
“It just takes time,” Bjork said. “That’s more of a construction project versus a replacement of one board or another.”
The athletic department has sought to elevate the game day experience at the historic stadium, beginning last year with various changes to the script.
It’s also adding field-level suites this year in the south end zone and launched a survey in April to ask fans about other refurbishments.
“Ohio Stadium is always under construction,” Bjork said, “because it’s 104 years old. We’re constantly upgrading it. You’ll see a lot of things this year. You’ll see more things in 2027.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State to upgrade videoboard at Ohio Stadium, replace audio system
Reporting by Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
