The Wheeling Nailers have called Wheeling’s event center for so long, the team was known as the Thunderbirds and Wesbanco Arena was called the Wheeling Civic Center.

But that was in 1991, more than 30 years ago, and now the hockey team is the longest-tenured in the ECHL with the most – over 60 now – players ever to advance to the NHL. The team plays 36 home games each year and advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals during the 2015-16 season. One of the team’s best players back then was forward Derek Army, the same man who is the head coach today.

Army believes in a feast-but-physical team, and that’s what he assembled to begin this season. Transactions – a big part of being the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins – often take Wheeling’s best players to the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre Baby Penguins, but that’s part of the art, Army will tell you – when it comes to the “Nailers Way.”

The arena itself has gone through many changes since 2015 when the City of Wheeling upgraded the facility’s facade, replaced its seats, replaced the suspended scoreboard with a video-version upgrade, and upgraded the sound system. Before former executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports & Entertainment Authority – Denny Magruder – retired in October 2022 after 36.5 years of service with the City, he supervised the replacement of the ice-making system in the floor of the arena.

Most recently, the Blue Line Lounge was constricted on the event center’s main floor, and a new kitchen is nearing completion and soon will be used by the employees of the Generations Club and by the arena’s catering crews.

Those upgrades, plus the implementation of a “Co-Pro” program developed by Magruder and City Manager Bob Herron have allowed the Authority’s new executive director Kelly Tucker to contribute funds to promoters to book additional dates in the arena and in the Capitol Theatre. Last weekend was a perfect example of how live entertainment has increased with seven total shows at both venues, including a near-sell-out for Ice Nine Kills at Wesbanco Arena this past weekend.

A photo of an ice.
The Nailers’ in-game entertainment staff has upped its game the last couple of seasons inside Wesbanco Arena, beginning at the very start of each game.
The inside of an arena.
The lobby of Wesbanco Arena now features promotional banners for the longest-tenured team in the ECHL.
A trophy case of jerseys.
The Nailers have several uniform combinations for this season’s 2023-24 schedule. Each season, though, the team wears a few jerseys for promotional evenings, and then they raffle them off to benefit local charities.
A number of plaques on the wall.
A few different walls inside Wesbanco Arena are covered with plaques honoring several current and former Wheeling residents as members of the City’s Hall of Fame.
A painted wall.
One of the capital improvements made inside the arena is the Blue Line Lounge, a bar located on the main floor that offers all options.
A seating area in a rink.
Officials with Wesbanco Arena have added a few different amenities, including rink-side seating near the Blue Line Lounge.
Two football jerseys.
Along with the Wheeling Hall of Fame, the OVAC Hall has displays throughout the building to honor some of the greatest athletes in Ohio Valley history.
A laundry basket in the midd;le of a rink.
The “Chuck a Puck” contest has been an intermission feature for several years, and it’s sponsored by the Appliance Connection in Moundsville.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR