The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Gold & Blue Enterprises have entered into a historic 10-year partnership with Hope Gas that will rename one of the legendary college basketball arenas in the United States.
‘wvusports.com’ stated that the iconic WVU Coliseum will now be known as the Hope Coliseum and marks the first name change in the 55-year history of the most visible building on the Evansdale campus a modern, automobile-centered section of West Virginia University [WVU] in Morgantown, West Virginia, US.
The West Virginia University in Morgantown is the flagship institution of West Virginia (US). They offer groundbreaking research, internationally renowned faculty and endless academic possibilities.
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the West Virginia University sponsors 18 varsity sports.
The West Virginia University (WVU) Intercollegiate Athletics, led by the Vice-President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker, launched Gold & Blue Enterprises (GBE) in June 2025 to generate revenue and provide Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) support for the student-athletes.
The Hope Gas is a Local Distribution Company (LDC) that proudly provides gas service to approximately 140,000 residential, industrial and commercial customers 39 West Virginia counties. They monitor and maintain over 7,000 miles of pipelines that safely deliver West Virginia natural gas to many homes and commercial and industrial sites.
The Hope Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena located on the Evansdale campus of the West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia (US). The circular arena features a poured concrete roof.
‘wvusports.com’ further stated that the extensive partnership covers naming rights, sponsorship and future donations to the WVU Athletics and will solidify the Coliseum’s elite status for many years to come. The commitment from Hope Gas will generate a significant new annual revenue stream for the WVU Athletics.
Remarked Morgan O’Brien, Hope President and head honcho, “I would like to thank the WVU and Mountaineers across the State for this exciting opportunity to continue to invest in the future of West Virginia. For more than 125 years Hope Gas has provided the energy needed for the people of West Virginia to warm their homes, operate their businesses and provide opportunities for economic development. Our roots and commitment to the State run deep.”
The Hope Coliseum will continue to be a multipurpose arena hosting athletic events in Men’s basketball, Women’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics and rifle as well as University functions and concerts. More than eight million spectators have passed through the building’s doors.
Informed Wren Baker, West Virginia University Vice-President and Director of Athletics, “Hope Gas is a West Virginia-based company with West Virginia values and aspirations to make West Virginia an even better place to live and work. This partnership is an important step in our department’s growth and stability as new revenue generation is vital to our future. Morgan O’Brien is a visionary leader and we are proud to partner with him and the entire team at Hope to build on a great athletics tradition and form a winning partnership.”
Added Michael T. Benson, West Virginia University President, “As we move into a new era at the West Virginia University, what is now the Hope Coliseum – highlighting the University’s strong partnership with Hope Gas – stands as a powerful example of what higher education can accomplish in collaboration with businesses. The Hope Coliseum will remain a destination for generations of proud Mountaineer fans and a focal point for the University during times of celebrations.”
The University and Athletics Department have already started preparing the building for its next 50 years. In 2020, 14,000 dark blue seats replaced the original 50-year old seating and a new sound and lighting system along with a high-definition videoboard made debuts. A renovated concourse opened in 2017 with major improvements to its restrooms, concession stands and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seating while the locker rooms have been upgraded and modernized. Two premium spaces, the Peak and the Clark Mountaineer Club, have also been added in the last three years and additional premium options are in the planning stages to meet the needs of today’s sports fans.
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