Fall in North America brings cooler weather, busy schedules, and—most importantly—football season. For Ohio State fans, that means packing into Ohio Stadium, affectionately known as The Horseshoe. Behind the scenes, however, keeping this iconic venue dry and playable is no small feat. Thanks to Allied Technical Services and Mission Communications, the only chaos at the stadium happens between the whistles.
A Legacy of Expertise
Doug Sayre founded Allied Technical Services in 1994 to provide water and wastewater pump solutions across Ohio. By 2001, his team was deeply involved in the stadium’s major renovation, which reintroduced natural grass after decades of artificial turf. The project required lowering the field and installing a slurry wall—a massive “bathtub” around the stadium—to manage groundwater. Inside that wall sits the pump station that keeps the field dry.
A Critical Save
On the final day of system startup, a power cut left the pumps offline, and water began flooding the fieldhouse. Sayre acted fast: “I told my guys to get two of our six-inch pumps and immediately start dewatering.” Allied’s quick response saved the project from costly damage and earned the trust of Ohio State. From that day forward, Allied became the go-to team for water management at The Horseshoe.
Smart Monitoring with Mission
To prevent future mishaps, Sayre installed a Mission RTU device to monitor and control the pumps. The system manages all non-sanitary water—groundwater, rain, and roof runoff—storing up to 20,000 gallons at any time. When rain hits, pumps kick in automatically, each capable of moving 9,200 gallons per minute. Mission’s 123SCADA web portal gives Sayre real-time visibility into pump runtimes and system health. High-level alarms and fault alerts trigger voice calls to his team, ensuring rapid response. “I have about six different schedules, depending on what’s going on,” Sayre explains.
Prepared for the Worst
Ohio weather can be unpredictable. Sayre often shows contractors data from a record-breaking July storm where all three pumps ran for 30 minutes straight. “It’s a great reminder of why this system matters,” he says.
Connectivity That Counts
Cellular telemetry powers Mission’s RTU, and Sayre calls it a game-changer. “Not using telemetry is almost crazy,” he says. With modern networks, even 100,000 fans can stream during a game without issue.
Beyond the Field
Today, Ohio Stadium uses artificial turf, but water management remains essential. “We still water the turf to keep it from getting dusty during games,” Sayre notes. Allied’s system handles that too, ensuring pristine playing conditions.
Thanks to Allied Technical Services and Mission Communications, Ohio Stadium stays ready for every kickoff—rain or shine.
Want to learn how Mission can support your water or wastewater operations? Contact sales@123mc.com.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by Mission Communications and Allied Technical Services, Inc. It is not an endorsement by Ohio State University.