Officials expect to announce a naming sponsor for the Highlands Sports Complex’s fieldhouse soon. (File Photo)

TRIADELPHIA — The Highlands Sports Complex is expected to have a naming sponsor for its fieldhouse before the beginning of 2025.

Harvey Greenidge, general manager for the sports complex, recently updated Ohio County Development Authority members on happenings at the facility as the new year approached. The Highlands Sports Complex opened in the summer 2020 during the early months of the COVID pandemic, and has never had any naming sponsors.

“We’ll have a naming sponsor for the fieldhouse. Hopefully, by Jan. 1 we’ll have the contract signed and a naming partner and we’ll be announcing that,” he said.

Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, OCDA president, said the board wasn’t yet aware of who the title sponsor might be or how much money might be involved. Any agreement will have to be approved by the OCDA, he noted.

Greenidge did not answer calls to his office seeking additional comment Monday.

Greenidge told OCDA members the total number of events scheduled for the sports complex next year is at 73.

“That’s up from 64 last year,” he added.

Greenidge explained a number of the events are ones organized by the sports complex including five volleyball tournaments, and an indoor baseball tournament.

Sports complex personnel also are working with local middle schools to bring back the “Shot In The PARK” archery tournament.

Additionally, pickleball and soccer tournaments are expected to return in 2025.

Of the 73 events scheduled for the sports complex, seven are new to the area, according to Greenidge.

“There are people we’ve reached out to bring into the venue, and some are local,” he continued.

One of these is Tripp’s Fun Zone of Wheeling, a provider of inflatables for children’s parties, which will set up its Winter Fun Fest on Jan. 5, 2025 at the sports complex. A magic show and balloon animals will be part of the event.

Tickets cost $20 per child and none will be sold at the door.

“Hopefully, that goes very well and we’ll do more with him as well,” Greenidge said.

Also new will be “Silent Disco” parties. Attendees will be at a party where they wear headphones, listen to their own music and change the music as they wish, he explained.

There will be separate “Silent Disco” events for adults and teens.

“We’re hoping to get that off the ground in January,” he told OCDA members.

Greenidge said the sports complex is working on starting a Wednesday night adult skee ball league, as well as a youth league on weekends to bring more revenue in from the arcade.

Most of the past events happening at the sports complex will be returning in 2025, according to Greenidge.

Among these is the Wheeling Park High School VEX Robotics Tournament, running Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. Last year, the tournament utilized half of the fieldhouse, but this year it will take over all of the space, according to Greenidge.

He noted the only event not coming back in 2025 is the American Cornhole League (ACL) event.

“We just found out that we lost the bid to another venue, but we are on their radar to try and get them back — hopefully in the next two years,” Greenidge said. “We’ll try and work with them.”

He announced the sports complex also picked up six new sponsorships with local businesses for 2025. These include McDonalds, Center Market, Alpha Tavern, Euphoric Donuts, West Liberty University and the Palace of Gold.

Ohio County’s contract with HSC, the operator of the sports complex, is about to expire. Discussion of the contract was tabled at the Dec. 12 meeting, and is expected to be further explored in January.