Welcome to Columbus — Buckeye Born, Blood-Red Bled

Columbus doesn’t try to be your favorite city—it doesn’t need to. This is a town where loyalty is inherited, not chosen. On Saturdays in the fall, the air gets thick with smoke from backyard bratwurst grills and the sound of a million people yelling “O-H!” back and forth across the city like it’s church. You can feel it on Lane Avenue—where the night before the game hits as hard as the fourth quarter—and in campus dive bars where former linemen pour shots and refuse to talk about “that Michigan loss” in 1996.

Ohio State isn’t just a school—it’s a religion, a rite of passage, a dynasty dressed in scarlet and gray. Columbus? It’s the kind of place where you can sip bourbon in a German Village speakeasy Friday night, wake up hungover, crush a Thurmanator burger, and be ten beers deep by noon while your Uber driver yells “Go Bucks!” out the window.

Come correct, or don’t come at all.

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📍 City Snapshot (Quick Glance)

• Nickname/Claim to Fame: The 614 | Buckeye Nation | Home of Script Ohio
• Home Teams & Stadiums: Ohio State Buckeyes | Ohio Stadium (“The Horseshoe”)
• Best Time to Visit: Late September through mid-November — perfect foliage, peak rivalries
• Vibe Check: Loud, loyal, and ready to throw hands (or beers) for the Buckeyes

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✈️ 2. How to Get There

• Closest Airport: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — 15 minutes to campus
• Driving Distance:
  • Cincinnati: 1.5 hrs
  • Cleveland: 2 hrs
  • Indianapolis: 3 hrs
• Rental Car Needed? Optional — rideshares are everywhere, but handy for German Village or Short North exploring
• Transit Options: COTA buses run game day shuttles; some bars offer private tailgate buses
• Parking Tips: Avoid on-campus garages. Park east of High Street in residential areas (early) and walk.

Best Bet: Fly into CMH, Uber to Short North or Victorian Village, and don’t drive unless you’re tailgating OG-style with a flat-top and folding chairs.

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🎉 3. The Fan Experience

• Traditions & Rituals:
  • Script Ohio (you will cry when the sousaphone player dots the “i”)
  • Carmen Ohio post-game singalong
  • Jumping in Mirror Lake (historically, now frowned upon… but, well, students)
• What to Wear: Scarlet and gray everything — bonus points for vintage Starter jackets and Block “O” face tattoos
• Tailgating Style: Hardcore — think full smokers, family legacies, and RVs with rooftop couches
• Chants, Cheers, Anthems:
  • “O-H!” / “I-O!”
  • “Hang On Sloopy” plays, and the whole place sings like it’s gospel

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🍻 4. Before the Game

• Top 3 Tailgate Parties:
  1. Varsity Club Lot – Classic, rowdy, and always packed
  2. Chic Harley Memorial Tailgate – Local legend, free food if you’re polite
  3. Land Grant Tailgate Yard – Craft beer meets cornhole with OSU grads at the taps
• Where to Park & Pre-Game: Park off Lane Ave near Neil; pregame at The Little Bar or Out-R-In
• Best Bars Near Campus:
  • Threes Above High (rooftop + jello shots)
  • Too’s Spirits Under High (basement party vibes)
  • Eddie George’s Grille for the tourists—but you’ll still go

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🏈 5. During the Game

• Best Energy Seats: South Stands (Section 39-41) – rowdy, standing-room, feel the drums in your chest
• What to Eat: Stadium bratwurst, Buckeye Donuts coffee (yes, they’re inside the stadium)
• Student Section Tips: Get there early, wear something washable, and hydrate (you’ll lose your voice by halftime)

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🍔 6. After the Game

• Post-Win Hangouts:
  • Midway on High – chaos in a building
  • Ethyl & Tank – game recaps over beers & breakfast
• Late-Night Eats:
  • Buckeye Donuts (open 24/7 – get the maple bacon)
  • Mikey’s Late Night Slice – pizza with unicorn sauce
• DJs, Dives, Dancefloors:
  • Standard Hall for music
  • Scully’s Music Diner for dancing
  • Olde Towne Tavern for whiskey-fueled debriefs

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🌆 7. Local Culture for Travelers

• Must-Eat Food Spots:
  • Thurman Café – order the Thurmanator, respect the beast
  • Ray Ray’s Hog Pit – some of the best ribs in the Midwest
  • Northstar Café – classy, clean, and solid brunch fuel
• Neighborhoods to Explore:
  • Short North – art galleries, rooftop bars, indie shops
  • German Village – brick-lined streets, killer bakeries
• Cool Merch Spots:
  • Homage – retro Buckeye gear done right
  • Big Fun Columbus – weird gifts + vintage team gear
• Bonus Side Quests:
  • Tour Watershed Distillery
  • Bike the Olentangy Trail before the beers hit

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🛏️ 8. Where to Stay

• Walkable Hotels:
  • The Blackwell Inn (on-campus luxury)
  • Graduate Columbus (quirky, collegiate, Instagram gold)
• Airbnbs:
  • Short North row houses with grills + rooftop decks
  • Campus-area duplexes with fenced backyards = elite
• Hotel Vibe Ratings:
  • Le Méridien The Joseph – artsy luxury
  • Canopy by Hilton – modern and loud (in a good way)

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💡 9. Local Insider Tips

• From a Local Fan: “Never say The University of Michigan—just call it ‘That Team Up North.’”
• Things Not to Do: Don’t wear blue. Just don’t.
• Game Day Hacks:
  • Hit Adriatico’s for pizza at halftime
  • Bring a flask — campus cops know, but they look the other way if you’re not a jerk

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🎁 10. Extras

🍳 Hangover Brunch: Katalina’s – pancake balls and chorizo

📸 Instagram Spots: The “Script Ohio” statue, Lane Ave tailgate chaos, rooftop at Standard Hall

🎧 Hype Playlist: Buckeye Blitz on Spotify

📍 Custom Map: BowlGuides OSU Game Day Map

🧢 Local Collabs: Homage x OSU Vintage Collection