IF YOU BUILD IT, WE WILL COME.
AND SKATE.
AND SHOP. AND PLAY. AND EAT. AND SPEND. AND BUILD COMMUNITY.

Ice rinks build community. Families come together to skate. Teams are formed. And they compete. Friends meet up. Kids and teenagers gather safely. And after all is said and done, they leave to enjoy meals together, shop nearby, hold team parties at local bars and restaurants, and more.

THIS IS OUR STARTING PLACE. I created this petition to be able to show how many are interested in this and to be able to present this in next steps towards building a new rink in this area.  Please help me pass this along to friends, families, and anyone you can think of.

FOURTY ONE MILES. Wheeling, WV doesn't have any indoor ice rinks that are open all-year long. FOURTY ONE miles separates Wheeling and Printscape Arena at Southpointe, which is the closest all-year-round indoor ice rink in the area.

REVITALIZE BUSINESSES. Perhaps just as important, a indoor ice rink (and sports facility) would revitalize our Wheeling neighborhoods whose storefronts and restaurants are closing every day. People aren't shopping. But they still go out to play. And after they play, they need to eat. And drink. 

BRING PATRONS. For example, The Highlands has LARGE, often empty restaurants that could be filled post-figure skating practice or hockey competition. Figure skating and hockey teams could fill them up with team dinners and parties. 

BRING JOBS. Sports facilities mean jobs for coaches, tech, maintenance, concessions, administration, marketing, and more! Plus, figure skating and hockey coaches often need more places to earn a living as ice time is so scarce that they often bring their students (and the money they bring) outside of the city to suburban rinks.

FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. Northern West Virginia high school hockey is growing, yet often student athletes head to Pittsburgh to play hockey or for figure skating. WAHA hockey, WVHL, and Jr. Nailers could be a tremendous source of community pride as well as keeping our smart, dedicated and motivated student athletes here at our incredible NEIGHBORHOOD ice rink. Other area high schools would also benefit and share in the opportunities!

There are so many reasons that an ice rink in Wheeling, The Highlands, or somewhere in the vacinity would help this community. But it is a lot to ask. And we know that. 

We, the undersigned, pledge that if you build it, we will come. And we will skate. And we will bring our friends and family. And we will be forever thankful, too.

We will patronize nearby restaurants, bars and shops. We will build community. We will cheer each other on in friendly and respectful competition. We know this is a lot to ask. So, we plan to give a lot in return. 

IF YOU BUILD IT, WE WILL COME.