Ohio State University is poised to invest $125 million in a sweeping renovation of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the hub of its football operations.
A Multi‑Year Displacement and a New Weight Room
The construction, scheduled to begin in roughly 18 months, will expand the locker room, training facilities and add a modern weight room, while also upgrading coach offices and team meeting spaces.
Because the work will span more than a year, the Buckeyes’ football squad will be displaced, forcing players and staff to train and meet in temporary locations across campus.
Chasing a $500 Million Budget
Athletic director Ross Bjork says the upgrades are part of a larger strategy to push the department’s annual operating budget past the half‑billion‑dollar mark, a milestone he believes will cement Ohio State’s brand nationally.
In the most recent fiscal year the athletic program generated $336 million in revenue and incurred $320.4 million in operating expenses, underscoring the scale of the financial target.
Bjork also pointed to the university’s 25,000‑strong donor community as a key lever, aiming to grow that base to fuel the ambitious budget goal.
If successful, Ohio State would become the first collegiate program to sustain a $500 million athletic budget each year, a benchmark that could reshape conference financial dynamics.
The renovation aligns with the university’s broader mission, offering enhanced resources for sports science research and community outreach while the team prepares for a temporary home during construction.