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Ohio State football may set the gold standard on the field. Still, behind the scenes, the university’s athletic department is facing a different kind of pressure. The pressure to sustain excellence across 36 varsity programs. In a recent interview, Athletic Director Ross Bjork noted that he is thinking beyond Ryan Day’s football empire. The program is focused on “how to monetize” and modernize an entire athletic ecosystem, one that includes 36 varsity sports, all competing at elite levels. The Buckeyes have led the nation in athletic department spending for several consecutive years, reporting $293 million in expenditures for the 2023-24 season, according to the university’s latest NCAA financial disclosures. That total reflects an increase of roughly $17 million from the previous year. To put that money to good use, appearing on the Bucknuts’ Happy Hour Podcast, Ross Bjork revealed that they had an athletic staff meeting and came up with a lot of concepts and ideas. They are now in the “activate and engage stage”, and they’re planning to get some things off the ground. He hinted that there will be “several pieces of technology”. Bjork said, “We need new video boards at baseball and softball. So those things are actually going to come online here in early 2026. A new video board at the Shottenstein Center, and then there’ll be some technology upgrades at Ohio Stadium.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Ohio State is targeting new video and ribbon boards at Ohio Stadium by the 2026 season, with a fallback timeline of 2027. Replacing the ribbon boards and potentially relocating the north end zone scoreboard are top priorities, while expanding the south end zone video board will take longer. The university also plans to relocate TV production trucks, create a new compound, and continue improving fan experiences. OSU’s AD said, “We’re installing the south end zone premium seating area right at field level. There’ll be nine suites, 400 club seats. The club seats are pretty much sold out.” Work has also begun on the 1922 Club on the stadium’s east side, currently in its demolition phase. Bjork confirmed that a “full master plan” is in motion to upgrade restrooms, concessions, concourses, and signage. Even niche improvements, like a weatherized photography room, are on the list. Larger-scale infrastructure work, particularly in the south end zone, will unfold gradually over the next “five to seven years,” as Bjork noted. Based on the AD’s statement, it’s pretty evident that the program is planning for one of the best athletic experiences in the country. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Ross Bjork’s Ohio State funds 36 sports Ohio State offers 36 sports for the students, of which 34 sports spend more money than they make, except for football and basketball. Bjork acknowledged that they have more than $300M budget for the upcoming year, and are not going to cut any sports. He said that they’ll plan accordingly to increase the profit, instead of cutting the sports. “We will maintain 36 sports,” Bjork said. “One, you have an obligation to the young people in those programs. There are a lot of historical programs that compete here. We want to maintain that, we want to grow that. How we spend our money can look different… We’ll manage through all of that.” He said that dropping sports hasn’t turned out well historically, and still wanted to generate the right kind of revenue. He feels that’s the right thing based on legacy, history, and opportunities are concerned. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports He believes that this is an evolution, but in the five to ten years from now, the expenses might be big, but he still plans to hold on to the same thing because he believes that’s the “right thing to do.” What are your thoughts on OSU’s athletic renovation projects?
