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Even with some expected growth in the greater metro valley corridor, I still can't imagine Topgolf opening in WV. The Charleston/Huntington metros combined would still be one of Topgolf's smallest markets they are in. The area's population is stagnate at best, and the majority of their smaller market locations are in fast growing sunbelt cities.
Don't get me wrong, I would be extremely excited if a full fledged Topgolf opened anywhere in WV! I've been to their Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Tampa locations and they are so much fun!
It could very well be a Topgolf Suite, but I’m wondering where it would go? Maybe they want to compete with D&B following that announcement, but I’ve also noticed a lot of Suite locations are part of other tourist attractions, like resorts and casinos. Mardi Gras? Greenbrier?
I’m still holding onto hope for a physical location based on this statement from a few years ago:
“The company is actively seeking and evaluating development opportunities nationwide, with a focus on markets 100,000 – 500,000 in population.”
I agree the Charleston/Huntington/Barboursville area makes the most sense in terms of population, but also in terms proximity to other Topgolf locations. The closest one would be Louisville or Cincinatti? I always figured Morgantown would get one, but they’re only an hour from the Pittsburgh location (Brownsville, PA). The eastern panhandle has a combined population (Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan counties) of over 200,000, but they have two full Topgolf locations drivable within an hour (Ashburn, Germantown). For those reasons I don’t see them getting one, but I could be wrong.
It could very well be a Topgolf Suite, but I’m wondering where it would go? Maybe they want to compete with D&B following that announcement, but I’ve also noticed a lot of Suite locations are part of other tourist attractions, like resorts and casinos. Mardi Gras? Greenbrier?
I’m still holding onto hope for a physical location based on this statement from a few years ago:
“The company is actively seeking and evaluating development opportunities nationwide, with a focus on markets 100,000 – 500,000 in population.”
I agree the Charleston/Huntington/Barboursville area makes the most sense in terms of population, but also in terms proximity to other Topgolf locations. The closest one would be Louisville or Cincinatti? I always figured Morgantown would get one, but they’re only an hour from the Pittsburgh location (Brownsville, PA). The eastern panhandle has a combined population (Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan counties) of over 200,000, but they have two full Topgolf locations drivable within an hour (Ashburn, Germantown). For those reasons I don’t see them getting one, but I could be wrong.
Nonetheless, this will be a fun story to follow!
A place like the Greenbrier would probably be a likely spot for a Swing Suite.
If they were going to open one up, where is the best spot?
1. Huntington proper
> Pros: Could be a part of a larger redevelopment of former industrial sites that is already in the works. It's near Marshall. Would draw Ohio and KY people fairly easily.
> Cons: Por highway access. Have to convert brownfield sites which costs money.
2. Park Place in South Charleston
> Pros: Great visibility and location right off the highway. Tremendous amount of traffic in the area. Centerpiece for a new development which has insisted on bringing "first in the state" types of businesses. South Charleston is an emerging economy and no doubt the brightest light in the Charleston area.
> Cons: Centrally located in Charleston, but not the region as a whole.
3. Teays Valley near Home Depot
> Pros: Centrally located in the greater region and has great visibility and highway access. Proximity to middle/upper middle class (people who can afford Topgolf) and the fastest growing part of the region.
> Cons: Rather tacky area for them to locate in considering they usually go in new developments. Might be in the middle, but would be a drive for both Huntington and Charleston people.
I wouldn’t say that. All three of those metros are much larger than either Charleston or Huntingtons metro. Only combined, the Charleston-Huntington metro is comparable, but not really considering the land area involved.
Sky zone is not really a catch. Many small cities have them, including Glens Falls, NY near where I am now.
Dave & Busters on the other hand was a steal by the Huntington Mall! Those are usually in much bigger markets.
I think the overall primary consumer market for something like Top Golf is much larger than just the city/metro it is in. I think the major consumers for it wouldn't just come from Charleston/Huntington, but also areas around Beckley, Parkersburg, and Bluefield. Maybe even Clarksburg. I could be wrong, but there are a lot of WV license plates at the one in Bridgeville PA ~ 45 mins from the border, which was probably placed there intentionally for that reason, as opposed to something closer to Pittsburgh proper, which is ~ 25 minutes away. Not to mention, the vast majority of PGH's suburbs (especially the wealthy ones) are north of the city, and the Fort Pitt tunnel is a headache.
Side note, but I think Charleston and Huntington should be in the same metro. I also think this for Raleigh and Durham NC, but that's another story.
The Charleston-Huntington CSA has around 800k people, and the bordering Parkersburg and Beckley metros push it over 1 million, which is probably enough to support Top Golf. Although I'll admit, with those numbers, I'm surprised the region still doesn't have a Costco.
I think the area around the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort would be a solid location, along with around the US-35 Interchange in Putnam County. My guess is somewhere visible from I-64 with a centralized location primarily to Charleston & Huntington, but skewed eastward to attract customers from I-77 and the aforementioned regions and to those whom Columbus OH wouldn't be closer.
Last edited by Archer705; 05-13-2024 at 03:38 PM..
I think the overall primary consumer market for something like Top Golf is much larger than just the city/metro it is in. I think the major consumers for it wouldn't just come from Charleston/Huntington, but also areas around Beckley, Parkersburg, and Bluefield. Maybe even Clarksburg. I could be wrong, but there are a lot of WV license plates at the one in Bridgeville PA ~ 45 mins from the border, which was probably placed there intentionally for that reason, as opposed to something closer to Pittsburgh proper, which is ~ 25 minutes away. Not to mention, the vast majority of PGH's suburbs (especially the wealthy ones) are north of the city, and the Fort Pitt tunnel is a headache.
Side note, but I think Charleston and Huntington should be in the same metro. I also think this for Raleigh and Durham NC, but that's another story.
The Charleston-Huntington CSA has around 800k people, and the bordering Parkersburg and Beckley metros push it over 1 million, which is probably enough to support Top Golf. Although I'll admit, with those numbers, I'm surprised the region still doesn't have a Costco.
I think the area around the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort would be a solid location, along with around the US-35 Interchange in Putnam County. My guess is somewhere visible from I-64 with a centralized location primarily to Charleston & Huntington, but skewed eastward to attract customers from I-77 and the aforementioned regions and to those whom Columbus OH wouldn't be closer.
While I agree that they should be combined, practically they exist as two distinct metros. To my knowledge, there isn't even a local bus line that directly connects the two cities together. They do have a combined CSA at over 643,000, which includes 12 counties in WV, OH and KY. That's a far bit short of your 800k figure.
A major pet peeve of mine is how the Census Bureau in 2010 robbed the Charleston MSA of Putnam County. Last time I checked, Teays Valley is the way it is because of Charleston, not Huntington. Teays Valley is closer to Charleston than it is to Huntington, and the majority of Putnam County's population density is centered around the Charleston end of the valley. That change in designation has severely hurt Charleston's ability to lure businesses in. It should have been split up better, with Hurricane being allocated to Huntington and Scott Depot to Charleston. I don't have the commuting trends available, but I am fairly confident that they would back up this claim.
Ok, rant over. Back to Topgolf!
Another factor that determines where a place like Topgolf locates is can the people in that area afford it. There might be 600k in the metro and another couple hundred thousand within an hour of that, but will these people pay for that? Maybe, but I am skeptical. Also, how interested are younger West Virginians in a golf related entertainment option? I can tell you that Topgolf is not really a place for older golfers to enjoy the driving range. Does the demographic of people that Topgolf is trying to reach produce any interest in the Mountain State? Again, I don't have a clue.
I have driven to the Pittsburgh Topgolf at least 3 times, and yes I have seen many WV plates there. But its proximity to Wheeling, Weirton and Morgantown play a factor there.
I know I sound like a big pessimist, which I am truly not! I think that if Topgolf did decide to locate in WV that the Char/Hun area is the best suited place for it. I even like your idea of it being near Mardi Gras. In another thread, I even made a hypothetical mixed use development that featured a Topgolf.
I just think it would be out of character for Topgolf to locate in a place as small as that, given that there has been virtually no economic growth in the region for decades. I hope I am wrong, and I would be the first in line for the humble pie!
While I agree that they should be combined, practically they exist as two distinct metros. To my knowledge, there isn't even a local bus line that directly connects the two cities together. They do have a combined CSA at over 643,000, which includes 12 counties in WV, OH and KY. That's a far bit short of your 800k figure.
A major pet peeve of mine is how the Census Bureau in 2010 robbed the Charleston MSA of Putnam County. Last time I checked, Teays Valley is the way it is because of Charleston, not Huntington. Teays Valley is closer to Charleston than it is to Huntington, and the majority of Putnam County's population density is centered around the Charleston end of the valley. That change in designation has severely hurt Charleston's ability to lure businesses in. It should have been split up better, with Hurricane being allocated to Huntington and Scott Depot to Charleston. I don't have the commuting trends available, but I am fairly confident that they would back up this claim.
Ok, rant over. Back to Topgolf!
Another factor that determines where a place like Topgolf locates is can the people in that area afford it. There might be 600k in the metro and another couple hundred thousand within an hour of that, but will these people pay for that? Maybe, but I am skeptical. Also, how interested are younger West Virginians in a golf related entertainment option? I can tell you that Topgolf is not really a place for older golfers to enjoy the driving range. Does the demographic of people that Topgolf is trying to reach produce any interest in the Mountain State? Again, I don't have a clue.
I have driven to the Pittsburgh Topgolf at least 3 times, and yes I have seen many WV plates there. But its proximity to Wheeling, Weirton and Morgantown play a factor there.
I know I sound like a big pessimist, which I am truly not! I think that if Topgolf did decide to locate in WV that the Char/Hun area is the best suited place for it. I even like your idea of it being near Mardi Gras. In another thread, I even made a hypothetical mixed use development that featured a Topgolf.
I just think it would be out of character for Topgolf to locate in a place as small as that, given that there has been virtually no economic growth in the region for decades. I hope I am wrong, and I would be the first in line for the humble pie!
Great post, i agree with almost everything you said. I think a Top Golf would work in Putnam County, close to the 64/35 interchange. It would draw people from WV, OH and KY on weekends and i think that would be enough to keep it going for a bit.
My buddy sent me this link. Looks like Top Golf acquired a business license in February. I know Barboursville's Mayor Chris Tatum has said he's been in talks with TopGolf.
The “DE” (Delaware?) next to charter state is an interesting piece I hadn’t given much attention before. My first thought was Delaware North, owner of Mardi Gras, but they’re based in Buffalo, NY.
The “DE” (Delaware?) next to charter state is an interesting piece I hadn’t given much attention before. My first thought was Delaware North, owner of Mardi Gras, but they’re based in Buffalo, NY.
So, I don't think that the "DE" has any real significance. I caught that too initially, and after looking at some other random business, I noticed it was a recurring thing.
If I had to guess, TopGolf submitted for and got their license but they haven't decided on a location, and the "DE" is just a random filler?
So, I don't think that the "DE" has any real significance. I caught that too initially, and after looking at some other random business, I noticed it was a recurring thing.
If I had to guess, TopGolf submitted for and got their license but they haven't decided on a location, and the "DE" is just a random filler?
That makes sense. I haven’t looked at too many licenses on the SoS website to notice that.
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