photo by: Shelley Hanson
TJ’s Sports Garden on National Road in Wheeling annually welcomes hundreds of Super Six fans the weekend of the championship games.
WHEELING – With the Super Six state football championships kicking off today, hundreds and even thousands of people from across the state will converge on the city to participate in and watch the games at Wheeling Island Stadium.
During their time in the Friendly City, the families, players, coaches and officials will all need a place to stay, places to eat and gasoline to fill their tanks for the ride home and for possible sightseeing while in the region.
The money spent on these items is a boon for many local businesses including the restaurants and hotels in the Wheeling area and beyond.
One Wheeling restaurant has become a popular spot annually for Super Sixers – TJ’s Sports Garden on National Road in Wheeling.
TJ’s Sports Garden owner T.J. Radevski said Thursday his eatery always looks forward to the championship coming to Wheeling. The restaurant is often chosen by the families, players and others who come into the city during the event.
“We always look forward to the Super Six. It brings extra people into the city of Wheeling which helps us,” he said.
Radevski said though unfortunately there are no local teams competing this year the tournament will still be helpful to his business as even more out-of-towners will be coming in.
This year’s title games are Parkersburg South against Huntington in Class AAA, Herbert Hoover (Elkview) against Independence (Sophia) in Class AA and James Monroe (Lindside) and Williamstown in Class A.
“Every team is from out of town, which really, really helps,” he said.
Radevski said TJs is ready to accommodate all associated with the Super Six. He estimates that each year it takes place in the city his business receives an extra 200 to 300 customers over the weekend.
Olivia Litman, marketing director for Visit Wheeling, said the tournament has a huge financial impact on the city, Ohio County and beyond. She said in addition to filling the hotel rooms and restaurants, Super Six participants are also looking for things to do during their downtime. Many will go see the Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights, enjoy a movie in a local theater or watch a Nailers hockey game at WesBanco Arena in the downtown.
“It’s a great weekend for tourism. It has an impact on Wheeling, Ohio County and St. Clairsville will see some great benefits. Washington County, Pennsylvania., will get overflow as well,” Litman said.
Frank O’Brien, executive director of Visit Wheeling, said the championship is a “significant driver of tourism dollars to Wheeling and Ohio County.”
“Especially when the six teams come from different parts of the Mountain State,” he said. “Thousands of football fans, players and families participating in the championship series spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at Wheeling/Ohio County hotels, restaurants and retail shopping.
“Those visitors, who may have come to Wheeling for the first time, will also visit Oglebay’s Festival of Lights. The yearly event is our opportunity to showcase just how there is to see and do in Wheeling and Ohio County.
“Businesses certainly benefit from direct visitor spending and residents benefit from the indirect collection of taxes which are used to improve the quality of life for county residents.
“It’s estimated visitors will spend several hundred thousand dollars while in Wheeling this weekend. Welcome to Wheeling Super Six fans,” O’Brien concluded.
Valerie Schumacher, assistant manager at Hampton Inn on National Road in Wheeling, said many of the Super Sixers started checking in at the hotel on Wednesday. She said the tournament brings in many who stay there annually.
“We definitely get a lot of players and mostly families and spectators,” she said. “We fill up. People look forward to this all year long.”
The hotel, which is ranked the No. 1 Hampton Inn in the state, also has amenities the tournament-goers enjoy, such as an indoor swimming pool.
“The main thing is that we have a shuttle that takes everyone to the stadium. People love the shuttle. We’re the only hotel in the area that has that,” she said.
Schumacher said the Super Six is a “big boost” for the hotel’s bottomline.
“Normally this is a slow time of year, but with the Festival of Lights and the Super Six on the weekend, it really knocks it out of the park for us,” she added. “We’re in a good location with restaurants and bars nearby. We have a good thing here for sure.”
Meanwhile, the Wheeling Police Department is reminding people to beware of the extra traffic occurring this weekend because of the Super Six. The most traffic will occur on Zane Street on Wheeling Island and at the Interstate 70 access points when all three games end. The games begin at 7 p.m. today and at noon and 7 p.m. Saturday.
Those who are attending the games are reminded to keep their vehicles locked. The Wheeling Police Department will have many officers working during the event.
