Wheeling defeated the Peach State Cats 61-14

Delorean Fleetwood

Wheeling, WV: After capping an undefeated season in the American Arena League 2, the Wheeling Miners forge ahead with the 2025 season in their foresights. Wheeling started the 2024 season with a rarity in the sport itself (if you can call it that, especially at this level), a shut out. They started the season with a 58-0 win at home in front of the Wes Banco Arena crowd against Steel City. In stark contrast to the easy start they had, they would soon get a baptism by fire, facing the defending league champions, the Jersey Bearcats. Wheeling proved its worth with a tough 42-32 win to solidify themselves as the team to beat in the 2024 AAL2 season. The Miners faced little to no opposition for the next month until they got a rematch with the Bearcats. This time, on the road, Wheeling had to earn their keep to stay on top. The Miners prevailed once more, 25-20 in a game that could have gone either way. Wheeling decimated their next two opponents by a combined score of 159-16 to set up a winner take all North Division Championship at home against the Jersey Bearcats. Wheeling would grind out the win, completing the hat trick of victories in the series by a score of 28-17. The Title Game was anti-climatic in comparison to their three games against Jersey, as Peach State had no answers for the North Division Champs, who earlier that same week, had agreed to jump ship to the National Arena League in 2025.

The Miners will play in the National Arena League for their 2025 season

The Miners have put together a great product for the fans to look forward to going forward. The broadcast crew, as previously mentioned on here, is top notch and provides unique aspects and angles during the YouTube broadcasts. With solid and stable ownership, the Miners can continue to add onto what they have already built in a just a short time. After the debacle that was the AIF revival, Wheeling steered the course and righter their ship and found their way quickly. In a state (and town for that matter), where football is breathed upon (and to some extent, hockey), Wheeling should continue to provide one of the best family affordable entertainment going forward, providing Wes Banco Arena crucial nights for revenue with the Nailers ECHL squad not picking up again until October.

Let’s be clear: West Virginia BREATHES football. Marshall is proud program with a ton of support and an amazing history, West Virginia Mountaineer Football has arguably the best fanbase within a few country miles, and with the college football off-season, the Miners can give the entire state of West Virginia a team to root for during the NCAA offseason no matter what side of the room you stand on during the college football season. The Nailers may fill a stop-gap between the NCAA and NAL, but football has, and always will be king in terms of West Virginia sports.

That being said, the Miners will certainly have their work cut out for them, as they will definitely have an increased difficulty in competition. Instead of playing Steel City or Maryland, they will have to play the likes of the Carolina Cobras and the Omaha Beef week in, week out. Even so, West Virginia should contend for a playoff spot in their inaugural NAL campaign next season. They will have an increased travel load next year as well. However, Harrisburg and Carolina should provide easier travel opportunities as compared to Omaha, Sioux City, and Idaho. Those road trips are certainly going to play a factor into a team that has yet to lose a game (Omaha hasn’t lost in two seasons!). While it’s likely Wheeling will lose next season (and probably more than once), the Miners have dug themselves a solid foundation that should last for the near future.