Activations
Campus Activations & Sponsorships at The Ohio State University:
Sponsorship within Events and Conferences at The Ohio State University offers on-campus activation opportunities that connect brands directly with the Ohio State community. From product sampling to experiential marketing, these activations are built to drive awareness, interaction, and impact. With more than 60,000 students on the Columbus campus and consistent high daily foot traffic, Ohio State offers an ideal environment for meaningful brand engagement.
Activation opportunities are available across a variety of high-visibility campus locations, allowing partners to connect with students where they naturally gather, dine, and spend time between classes.
Outdoor Campus Activation Spaces
Outdoor activation spaces give brands the opportunity to show up where campus energy is at its highest. Positioned along busy walkways and near popular gathering areas, these locations allow you to connect with students as they move between classes, dining, and campus events throughout the day.
These spaces work especially well for pop-ups, tabling, product sampling, and hands-on brand experiences that thrive in open, visible environments. During peak seasons and major campus moments, outdoor activations create memorable touchpoints that feel organic, engaging, and easy for students to interact with.
See available outdoor activation spaces on our Spaces page.
Indoor Activation Spaces
Indoor activation spaces across campus place your brand at the center of daily student life in high-traffic, high-engagement environments.
Ohio Union & North District
Indoor activation spaces in the Ohio Union and North District serve as the primary hubs of student movement and activity. These premier locations capture students between classes, meetings, dining, and events, making them ideal for interactive tabling, product demos, sampling, and immersive brand experiences. With steady foot traffic throughout the day, activations here deliver maximum visibility, strong engagement, and repeated impressions.
Explore indoor Ohio Union and North District activation spaces on our Spaces page.
Residence Halls & Dining Facilities
Indoor activation opportunities also extend into residence halls and dining facilities, allowing brands to connect with students in the spaces they utilize most. Ohio State’s residence halls are home to more than 17,000 students, creating consistent, recurring exposure within residential communities. In addition, our primary dining facility, Scott Traditions and Kennedy Commons, serves over 10,000 meals each day, offering high-volume visibility during peak mealtimes and sustained brand exposure in a highly trafficked indoor setting.
Recreational Sports Facilities
Activation opportunities within Recreational Sports facilities place your brand directly in front of an energetic, wellness-focused student audience. These high-traffic environments are ideal for lifestyle, fitness, and consumer brands looking to drive awareness, engagement, and action through interactive, social experiences. The Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC) alone sees over 8,000 visitors every daily, delivering consistent exposure and premium visibility at the center of student life.
View Recreational Sports Activation Spaces on our Spaces page.
Whether you are planning a one-day tabling activation or a multi-day sponsorship campaign, our team will help identify the most effective location to align with your goals and ensure compliance with university guidelines. If you have a specific activation in mind or are exploring options, we are here to help. Contact us at sl-sponsorship@osu.edu or 614-292-4665 to connect with our team.
Past Activation Examples:
Barebells
Strategically positioned a branded bus between the RPAC and Ohio Stadium on gameday to maximize visibility and drive engagement. This high-impact activation boosted brand awareness and generated direct product interaction with thousands of students!
Coca-Cola
Executed a Coke Float sampling at West Plaza that drew strong student traffic and engagement. The giveaway boosted brand visibility, encouraged social sharing, and turned a simple sample into a memorable experience that strengthened brand affinity.
Frigidaire
Deployed a strategic experiential activation at the Ohio State vs. Texas game. This high-traffic event enabled direct engagement with both students and the broader Buckeye fan base, expanding brand visibility and strengthening connection.
EA Sports
Launched a three-day West Plaza campus takeover featuring interactive gameplay and immersive challenges. The activation created strong student engagement, increased brand visibility, and drove product interest through an authentic gaming experience.
Buldak
Delivered a week-long North Campus activation that built sustained visibility in a key residential area. The large-scale challenge, anchored by a $10,000 grand prize, drove strong buzz and high participation across multiple days.
Jergen’s
Combined full-size gift bag giveaways with campus influencer promotion to drive awareness and product trial. A charm bracelet station created a hands-on experience that increased engagement and strengthened purchase interest.
Google Gemini
Launched a multi-location Welcome Week rollout to introduce the brand across campus. Key placements at the OUAB Block Party and Dirty Franks increased visibility and connected the brand with students during high-traffic moments.
Maybelline
Hosted a West Plaza event centered on complimentary product distribution to drive trial and immediate feedback. Interactive stations encouraged hands-on engagement and helped students experience the full range of offerings.
UberOne
Launched a visually distinctive West Plaza activation using a custom interactive bus to capture attention. The experience highlighted Uber One benefits while offering free products to spark interest and drive sign ups.