The Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority announced this week that the popular Professional Bull Riders’ PBR Velocity Tour will not be returning to WesBanco Arena this spring. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING — The Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority applauded recent wins with wildly successful concerts and events, but are bracing for the loss of an annual favorite that has drawn thousands to WesBanco Arena in recent years.

Great shows are on tap, with several exciting artists slated to be announced in the near future, officials said. Efforts are taking shape to hopefully bring back Broadway shows to the Capitol Theatre next year, but officials noted that Wheeling recently got bucked off of the popular Professional Bull Riding extravaganza PBR Velocity Tour schedule.

Bad news recently came down about the PBR Tour. It traditionally has been a very successful weekend in the spring with two nights of bull riding events at WesBanco Arena. Officials noted that the promoter had even considered adding dates to the Wheeling run.

“PBR is not coming back this year, and it’s a huge loss to us,” Tucker reported. “PBR was recently acquired by (TKO, parent company of WWE and UFC), and they are kind of scaling down their Velocity Tour — which is the tour that we got, and they’re focusing on the big cities. Now they can go back into Pittsburgh, they can go back into these major markets. I’m trying hard to fill that weekend — I have to find something for the arena that weekend.”

Tucker said some new ventures similar to the PBR tour are materializing nationally — including a bull riding event associated with comedian Larry the Cable Guy. But things are still in the works, and the sure-win PBR Velocity Tour stop will not take place this coming spring.

“It’s a huge financial loss to us. It’s a major weekend for us,” Tucker said. “We’re trying very hard to figure out something to put in here that weekend. They do extremely well here. They told me it has nothing to do with Wheeling. It’s just the reconfiguration of the business and how they’re going to move forward. It could come back next year — they haven’t ruled out Wheeling. But for this year, it is a loss.”

Members of the GWSEA board met for the first time in two months on Tuesday. October’s monthly meeting was canceled because officials were busy hosting rock icon Robert Plant, who kicked off his U.S. tour with his band Saving Grace at the Capitol Theatre on Oct. 30 before a sold-out crowd.

“October obviously was a very busy month for us,” GWSEA Executive Director Kelly Tucker reported, noting that Plant stayed in town and rehearsed for the tour with his band at the Capitol on the days leading up to the show. “We had great shows by Neal McCoy and Robert Plant. Robert Plant actually spent three days in Wheeling and absolutely loved the city. If you look at where we drew ticket sales from, most of them were from out of town and came and spent money in Wheeling — which is a goal for us.”

Fiscal officer Nancy Hughes said the successful October shows at the theater helped boost revenues for this quarter.

“September was a little bit of a rough month, but October was much, much better,” Hughes said. “October actually ended up being the highest October we’ve had since 2019 thanks to Robert Plant, Doo Wop, which continues to be a great event for us … as well as Neal McCoy and Vampire Circus.”

Tucker said that as November unfolded, the Wheeling Nailers’ hockey season began.

“We had a really great opening weekend,” Tucker said. “For the Nailers home opener, we did almost $23,000 in concessions. So when the Nailers win, we win. We’re always trying to be supportive and help them get more attendance here.”

There was also a nice run of shows at the Capitol, Tucker noted, with two kids’ shows, including Blippi, the Nutcracker and a well-attended country concert by Gary Allan.

“Gary Allan was fantastic — almost a sold-out show,” Tucker said. “It was $27,000 in concessions at the theater in one night, which is a huge amount of money for us.”

Last month, Tucker attended the International Entertainment Buyers Association conference in Nashville – a successful trip with the biggest takeaway raising hopes for the potential return of touring theater productions to the Capitol.

“The best thing I got out of the entire event was that I met with a promoter who does one-night only Broadway shows, so I’m currently collaborating with them on dates and production costs so that we can figure out how to roll out a series for ’26-’27,” she said. “It’s definitely something we’re missing the boat on right now. So that was a win.”

Officials noted that the Wheeling Miners play eight home games this season and are looking to continue into the future.

The GWSEA also introduced its new igloos – a unique dining experience in heated outdoor “igloos” — clear plastic domes — with a tremendous reception to the trendy new features outside WesBanco Arena and Heritage Port.

“We went on sale with those. We had 117 times slots available for a two-week run, and we only have 12 time slots left,” Tucker said of the igloo dining experiences. “We’re very excited, and we’re going to be very busy.”

Officials reported that they have received permission from the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department to have two more clean air exemptions next year in order to hold two more cigar socials – one in the spring and one in the fall. A one-time exemption had previously been granted for a cigar social event on the WesBanco Arena patio this past fall, which was very well attended and well received.

Officials agreed that Tucker should have the authority to transfer money from the agency’s excess fund to replenish the co-pro fund. The co-pro fund was established as a risk-sharing safeguard for promoters who are willing to book shows at the local venues. Local officials said the fund helps incentivize show stops in the local market.

The co-pro was originally funded with $500,000 through a $250,000 contribution from the city of Wheeling and another $250,000 from the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau. That fund has since dwindled to around $100,000, and Tucker is expected to replenish the co-pro fund to a level of around $250,000 from the GWSEA’s excess cash fund, which is at around $1.8 million.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board voted to approve a one-time $5,000 increase for the agency’s executive director.

The GWSEA board is expected to continue meeting each month, but is not expected to meet in December because of the holiday.