Officials with the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority hope to broaden the spectrum of shows that take place at WesBanco Arena by putting a new rigging system in place that can accommodate equipment for bigger productions.

Members of the GWSEA board gathered for their monthly meeting on Tuesday and discussed the past month’s array of shows that took place at WesBanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre, looked ahead to next month’s offerings and touched on proposed long-term improvements for the city’s biggest entertainment venue.

Kelly Tucker, executive director of the GWSEA, said that making an in-house rigging system available at WesBanco Arena could open the floodgates to more shows at the venue – including concerts by more touring acts promoted through Live Nation.

“I’ll just say it’s a big priority for me because I’ve lost a couple of shows for the arena,” Tucker told the GWSEA board. “It’s a high-cost addition to bring the extra riggers. We have to bring the lifts in, and a lot of tours will not rig from a lift. That’s very dated. It just doesn’t happen anywhere.”

Shows with substantial amounts of staging elements, large lighting rigs, speaker stacks, video screens and other production apparatuses need to suspend heavy equipment above the stage. At WesBanco Arena, the crews have to rent temporary lift systems and bring them inside to accomplish this.

The GWSEA was able to bring a new fly system to the Capitol Theatre — a much needed improvement that modernized the rigging system at that historic venue. Similarly, the improvement at the theater helped open the door to bigger productions there.

Wheeling City Council helped provide funding for the long-awaited fly system upgrade at the Capitol through an allocation to the GWSEA of a portion of the city’s federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

If a new rigging system is created for WesBanco Arena, the city will have to authorize a chunk of funding generated through sales tax revenues targeted specifically for arena improvements.

Tucker said an initial quote of around $211,000 was estimated for a new rigging system at WesBanco Arena.

“This is what it would cost to get us up to standard with other arenas,” Tucker said.

Members of the GWSEA board unanimously agreed to approve the project and to request funding from city council for it through the city’s Arena RCIP (Restricted Capital Improvement Projects) fund.

“When the original improvements were made at the arena, a portion of the sales tax was set aside by city council for arena improvements,” said Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron, chairman of the GWSEA board, explaining the Arena RCIP funds. “So right now, we have debt on the original improvements that include the seats, the main lobby, the video board, etc.”

Additional debt was also assumed from installation of new glass around the arena and other work that was done in recent years. Funds in the account build up over time, and the city has also used these funds to contribute to the arena’s new ice system, lights, cameras and to purchase the Zamboni.

“Ultimately, city council has the final say,” Herron said about the use of these funds. “In the past, they have been very gracious in approving requests, as long as the funding is there.”

With the Wheeling Nailers’ season now over, the ice has been removed from the arena until next season, Tucker noted. If the city makes funding available for the rigging system project, officials hope to complete it during the summer months when there is no need for the ice rink.

A new rigging system would improve safety and reduce costs associated with utilizing temporary lifts when necessary, GWSEA officials said.

“Hopefully it will increase the amount of shows we’re doing, too,” Tucker added.