Arena Seat Replacement Set for Summer

Plans are for WesBanco Arena to close from June 1 to Aug. 26 as all-new seats and handrails are installed at the downtown venue, according to City Manager Robert Herron.

The seat replacement will go out to bid later this week, Herron told City Council on Tuesday. It is the second of three phases of an estimated $5.6 million renovation project at the arena.

With a bid opening for the project scheduled for Feb. 20, City Council could approve a contract for the project in March, but work must wait until June due to already-scheduled events.

The last event listed on the arena's website is John Marshall High School's graduation on May 28.

The project schedule aims for minimal disruption of operations at the arena, according to officials. Arena manager Dennis Magruder has said summer is typically the slowest period for events.

The renovation's first phase, an $850,000 videoboard system including a high-definition, 20-foot by 8-foot center-mounted board and ribbon boards around the seating bowl, debuted Jan. 23. Vice Mayor Eugene Fahey said he was impressed by the new technology, which replaces equipment that was original to the 38-year-old facility.

"People wanting to book events at the arena are looking for that kind of quality, and we now have it," he said.

The final and most expansive phase of the renovation - a facade overhaul that will move the ticket windows indoors, bring the entrance to street level and, city officials believe, give the arena a much more modern feel - is slated to begin later this year.

With a tentative completion date of mid-2016, the arena will work around the project to continue hosting events after the seating project wraps up in August.

Revenue from Wheeling's municipal sales tax that went into effect Oct. 1, 2013, will be used to repay bonds sold in December to fund the project.

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Arena Seat Replacement Set for Summer