West Virginia utility puts name on WVU arena as customers brace for another rate hike
Hope Gas has its name on West Virginia University's arena, even as many customers are facing the utility's repeated attempts to raise their monthly bills.
The change was announced in September 2025, when WVU said the building, formerly known as the WVU Coliseum, would be renamed Hope Coliseum as part of the venue's first naming-rights deal.
Here's what to know
According to West Virginia Watch , WVU's 10-year arrangement with Hope Gas includes sponsorships and future donations to athletics, putting the utility in one of the state's most visible branding positions.
For critics, the concern is not simply the new name on the arena. It is also the timing.
The company's growing presence around WVU sports has unfolded at the same time that customers are following its attempts to win sizable rate hikes.
Hope Gas sought a 40% increase in 2024 and later reduced its 2025 proposal to 21%. Regulators set a September 23 hearing in Charleston on a new requested increase, keeping energy costs at the forefront for households that depend on gas service.
More background
The deal reflects a familiar West Virginia pattern in which extractive industries have often sought public goodwill through slogans, sports ties, and community partnerships. West Virginia Watch pointed to "Friends of Coal," a campaign created by PR firm Charles Ryan Associates, as one of the clearest examples of that strategy.
That approach surfaced in sports branding as well. The "Friends of Coal Bowl," which ran from 2006 to 2012, linked the industry's image to one of the state's biggest cultural institutions in college football. At the same time, Julian Martin, a longtime activist and former member of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, helped spread the "I Love Mountains" sticker to raise awareness about mountaintop removal mining.
The Ohio River Valley Institute estimated that roughly 50,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in West Virginia remain unplugged, and additional sites may not be accounted for. Plugging one well can cost up to $100,000.
What can be done?
One of the most immediate pressure points is regulation. Public utility hearings give residents, consumer advocates, and watchdog groups an opportunity to challenge proposed rate hikes and ask who should ultimately pay for abandoned wells.
Reducing energy waste can help ease the strain of higher gas costs. Weatherization, sealing air leaks, improved insulation, and efficient appliances can all help lower monthly bills.
Expanding access to cleaner electricity sources such as wind and solar could reduce exposure to volatile gas, oil, and coal prices and the health risks that come with them.
Where can I learn more?
The fight over Hope Coliseum is part of a larger story about who ends up paying for coal and gas — and what happens as cheaper, cleaner energy continues to gain ground. The articles below examine how those costs continue to hit ratepayers in West Virginia and beyond, even as utilities face growing pressure to reckon with wind and solar.
• In West Virginia, coal plant costs for ratepayers have kept mounting after decades of operation.
• Across the US, keeping old coal plants alive is costing customers hundreds of millions.
• Nationwide, wind and solar produced more electricity than coal, reshaping the power market.
They also show why this sponsorship fight matters beyond one arena. The name on the building has changed, but the bigger questions — who pays the bill and which energy future wins — have been around for years.
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