In preparation for the 2026 football season, the Ohio Stadium has made several technological upgrades.
Fans can now enter games using the Express Entry program, which uses facial authentication rather than scanning a ticket.
Kate Nushart, assistant athletics director for ticketing, said the system will be available at two gates for those who decide to enroll in the program. The program is a partnership with the software company, Wicket, and operates within Ticketmaster.
"We are not forcing [fans] to use facial authentication. It is just an option if they are interested in using kind of that quicker express entry into the stadium," Nushart said.
To create an expedited process for larger groups, Nushart said the system only requires the enrolled user to be scanned at entry for all tickets in their account.
The Ohio Stadium has also expanded coverage for its WiFi using an AI-powered network called Juniper Mist Wi-Fi 7. Ryan Holland, Ohio State's director of enterprise networking, said the new technology has doubled the capacity of the Wi-Fi network ensuring stable connection throughout the stadium.
"From the moment they scan mobile tickets at the gates, they should be able to stay connected throughout the concourse all the way to their seats," Holland said. "Messaging families and friends, sharing photos and videos and all that should be much more smooth than it has been in the past."
The stadium is also planning to implement new traffic barriers and checkpoints.
"[The barricades are] an added layer of security just to make sure that nobody gets through that doesn't belong there," said Alan Horujko, Ohio State's Deputy Chief of Police.
Other stadium upgrades include new turf and concession options.
