Wheeling Island Stadium

Wheeling Island Stadium

Wheeling Island Stadium in 2009.
Location	520 South Penn Street Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Owner	Wheeling Park High School
Operator	Wheeling Park High School
Capacity	10,000 [1]
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction
Opened	June 10, 1927
Renovated	1987
Construction cost	$200,000 [2] ($3.62 million in 2024 dollars [3] )
Architect	Charles W. Bates [4]
Tenants
Wheeling Park High School (1927–present) Wheeling Ironmen (CFL) (1962–1969) WVSSAC Super Six (1994-2023)

Wheeling Island Stadium is a stadium used mostly for American football and soccer located on Wheeling Island in Wheeling, West Virginia. The original portion of the stadium was dedicated on June 10, 1927, ^[5] but a large concrete seating section was added in 1987. ^[6] The stadium seats 12,220 in two stands along either sidelines, the end zones are empty. Wheeling Island Stadium usually hosts high school football and soccer events but can host concerts, hosting Styx and REO Speedwagon most recently in 2009. ^[7] President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at the stadium on September 27, 1962. ^[8]

The stadium is owned and operated by Wheeling Park High School. From 1994 through the 2023 season, Wheeling Island Stadium served as the host site for the West Virginia State High School Football Championships in Class A, Class AA, and Class AAA.^{[ citation needed ]}

The stadium is considered one of the best high school stadiums in West Virginia, mainly due to capacity and layout of the facility.^{[ citation needed ]} There is plenty of parking adjacent to the stadium, and a private lot adjacent to the south end zone for school personnel, media, and pass holders. The stadium is complete with a 3 level press box with camera deck and private boxes for the coaches. In 2008, a video system was installed at the stadium, several corporate sponsors donated to the project including Wheeling Hospital. Students from Wheeling Park High School's TV station, WPHP-TV, operate the cameras for all Wheeling Park football and soccer games.^{[ citation needed ]}

History

In 2004, the previous grass surface was replaced with an artificial turf surface. Due to the stadium's location in a high risk flood zone, there is an emergency plan to seal the playing surface in the event of flooding.^{[ citation needed ][ needs update ]}

References

1. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/wheeling-island-stadium-repairs-shouldn-t-affect-super-six/article_d58d6229-9e3c-5b91-a138-175556afb556.html
2. https://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/research/wheeling-history/5975
3. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
4. https://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/research/wheeling-history/5890
5. "Wheeling Island Stadium > Research | Ohio County Public Library | Ohio County Public Library | Wheeling West Virginia | Ohio County WV | Wheeling WV History |".
6. "Cost for Wheeling Island Stadium Repairs Less Than Anticipated".
7. "Styx / REO Speedwagon". Concert Archives.
8. "Remarks at the Wheeling Stadium, Wheeling, West Virginia, 27 September 1962 | JFK Library".

40°03′52″N80°43′49″W / 40.064329°N 80.730141°W / 40.064329; -80.730141