The Mountain Health Arena is undergoing extensive renovations thanks to the work of a trio of women known as the Three Musketeers
By Jean Hardiman
HQ 115 | AUTUMN 2021
Cindy Collins, general manager of Mountain Health Arena, has started sitting outside the office more. She’s hoping, now that renovations to the Soupy Sales Plaza are completed, she’ll see other workers, families and visitors to downtown Huntington doing the same thing.
Based on what she witnessed immediately after the ribbon cutting of the new and improved plaza, she thinks others will be as drawn to the space as she is. Community members have already been seen enjoying the new features, which include a spray ground/fountain area, a canopy for shade, a small space for outdoor performances, a fire pit, new lighting and seating and a striking new stained-glass “Huntington” sign.
“Right after the fountain came on, I would see children up here playing,” said Collins, who came back home to Huntington to lead the arena in 2018. “I would see families come by and people out here eating their lunch. In the evenings, I would see couples enjoying the lights and water because it’s kind of a romantic setting.”
But that’s not all.
“I’ve seen people come and have their pictures taken by the colorful Huntington sign. You have this perfect place for a photo op,” she noted. “It’s beautiful. It’s amazing. I can’t tell you how much I love it, how nice it is to come out here now.”
The plaza — named for the late Soupy Sales, a popular television and radio entertainer who grew up in Huntington and graduated from Marshall — recently earned an “All Star Community Award” for the City of Huntington from the West Virginia Municipal League.
The plaza is Phase 3 of a four-phase project. Phase 1 saw the painting of the exterior of the building which also features the artwork of Don Pendleton, the nationally acclaimed designer and illustrator from Ravenswood, West Virginia, who earned his degree from Marshall. Phase 2 included extensive renovations to the Conference Center. For Phase 3, a $3 million TIF (Tax Increment Financing) bond was used to fund the redesign of the plaza. Finally, Phase 4 will see renovations to the inside of the arena.
“The arena is 43 years old and the lady needed some self-care,” said Cathy Burns, executive director of the Huntington Municipal Development Authority. “These improvements will enhance the experience for all who grace her doors and increase revenue for the city, state and area businesses.”
The project is a team effort between the arena, the City of Huntington (which owns the arena) and Edward Tucker Architects. Collins described herself, Burns and Phoebe Patton Randolph, a principal at Edward Tucker Architects, as a female version of the Three Musketeers on the project.
“I couldn’t have hand-picked two better partners,” Collins said. “They’ve been great. They are amazing individuals. I can’t begin to tell you how smart and ‘on it’ they have been.”
Burns said their teamwork is both visionary and specific.
“We complement each other’s strengths by envisioning the big improvements and then breaking that down into phases to make it affordable and practical for implementation,” Burns said. “Cindy, along with assistance from ASM Global Management, studied national and local market trends; Phoebe and her team of architects developed professional drawings; and my role was to focus on raising funds, networking and solving problems. It’s been a very gratifying phased project.”
“I have a real team,” Collins said, adding that Mayor Steve Williams’ vision and support were invaluable. “It’s not just me and my staff; it’s an extended family. You don’t do anything like this by yourself. It was a team effort; and it was wonderful to see the city, Edward Tucker, Paris Signs and an amazing group of people come together to make it happen.”
Burns pointed out that the arena impacts people both near and far — it attracts attendees from a 250-mile radius. A recent economic study reported that the arena has a $17 million economic impact within the community.
Much of the time that Collins has been at the arena has been affected by COVID. But she looked at the pandemic as an opportunity to get some much-needed renovations done. Today she’s glad that the plaza — a piece of the arena that can be enjoyed by the community whether they buy a ticket or not — is finally ready to enjoy.
Phase 4 will see changes made to the inside of the arena including improvements to the restrooms, concession stands, loading dock and backstage area for the performers and their crews. But that’s not all. There’s work to be done on the roof, the sound system, the chiller and boiler system and more.
Perhaps Randolph sums up the trio’s hard work best.
“We would love to see the arena fulfill its potential to be a vibrant center of activity for our city and the surrounding region,” she said, “bringing artists, exhibitions, conferences and events to enrich our cultural experiences and quality of life.”
