June 8, 2016

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Bags larger than 5x8x1-inches will no longer be permitted in Ohio Stadium beginning with the Buckeye Country Superfest June 18-19. The policy also will be in effect for the International Champions Cup soccer game July 27 and the 2016 Ohio State football season as The Ohio State University implements a “no bag” policy at the 104,944-seat venue.

The policy will result in an increased level of security and improve the game experience for fans.

“We have worked alongside our safety, security and management teams and studied similar no bag policies,” Craig Stone, chief of the Ohio State University Police Division, said. “We are confident this new policy will create a safer environment for our fans. We also believe the policy will expedite the process of getting our fans into the stadium and to their seats.”

There will be one exception to the policy with regard to the size of handbags:

Guests with medical or childcare needs will be permitted to carry one bag, no larger than 14x14x14-inches, into the stadium through one of these locations: the Band Center entrance between Gates 10 and 12 or the Press Entrance between the Huntington Club and Gate 23.

While similar bag policies have worked well with few issues at select stadiums around the Big Ten Conference, fans will still be encouraged to arrive at the stadium early. Gates open two hours prior to kickoff. All items and persons entering Ohio Stadium are subject to inspection.

Visit www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gameday/ for additional information on permissible/permitted items and on your game day visit to Ohio Stadium.

A second new stadium policy also is being announced today.

As an extension of the 2015 pilot program at Ohio Stadium, beer sales now will be available stadium-wide during the 2016 football season. The sale of alcohol began in 2015 for patrons with tickets in the suite and club levels of Ohio Stadium.

The revenue generated by alcohol sales at Ohio Stadium will be used to fund two new full-time positions in the Ohio State Police Department at an annual cost of about $300,000. These new positions will be utilized year-round by campus police and are not specifically just for game day security.

“The safety of our campus community, including fans and visitors, is our number one priority,” Stone said. “Thanks to this partnership with the Department of Athletics, two new, full-time officers will bolster our security presence and enhance campus safety year-round.”

In addition, $50,000 will be dedicated over the next two years to fund research being conducted by John Clapp, who oversees the Ohio State University Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery. The funds provided will be used to study how alcohol is consumed and its effects on event culture with the goal of enhancing prevention efforts.

Any additional revenue will go to the general athletics department budget to help fund student-athlete initiatives including but not limited to study abroad and community service programs, the Bucks Go Pro internship program, cost of attendance and supplemental nutrition and meals.

About Ohio State Athletics

The Ohio State University Department of Athletics sponsors 36 fully funded varsity sports – 17 for women, 16 for men and three co-educational. The department is committed to providing its more than 1,000 student-athletes with the finest in academic and athletics support in order to ensure a quality and life-enhancing experience. The Department of Athletics is completely self-supporting and receives no university monies, tax dollars or student fees.