The Midland Athletic Syndicate sports facility has pulled off a rare feat. The new facility will be erected at a cost of roughly $35 million to benefit local athletes, and has been funded entirely by local foundations and West Texas companies. No tax funds will be used to pay for the facility.
Midland locals John Scharbauer and Austen Campbell came up with the idea during a club volleyball trip to a local town.
“The last two teams to play in the tournament were Midland teams, and we just saw the amount of revenue being spent outside of our city,” Campbell told Midland Times. He said Midland needed a sports facility for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer, and “it was important to us for it to be a true non-profit,” he said.
The state of the art sports facility is funded through a non-profit company that can accept tax-deductible contributions. The non-profit is also creating a large endowment that will support yearly employee compensation and substantial repairs without using local tax dollars.If interested parties would like to donate to the endowment, please contact the organization on their website at, www.midlandas.org.
The facility will be located adjacent to the current Scharbauer Sports Complex on Loop 250, which has ample parking on both sides.
The vision for MAS is to enhance youth sports, stimulate the local economy, and create sport events that promote Midland athletics. MAS will foster a culture of active living and athletic development within the community, Campbell said.
Scharbauer said keeping MAS as a “true non-profit” was at the core of their plans. “We’ve been very selective in who we’ve taken money from,” he said.
The Scharbauer Foundation was the first to “step up” and, according to Scharbauer, within “a short time, it was paid for.” The Scharbauer Foundation donated $8.5 million dollars, and then asked other companies and foundations to also donate.
Additional donations include:
- Diamondback donated $7.5 million
- Permian Resources donated $5 million
- FMH Foundation donated $3.5 million
- Pioneer Natural Resources donated $3 million
- Chevron and ConocoPhillips donated $2.5 million each
- Beal Foundation and OXY donated $1 million each
- Kent Kwik and Propetro donated $500,000 each
- Community National Bank donated $300,000
- KC Pipe donated $100,000
Several of the financial contributors also are involved with the oversight of the non-profit board, including Diamondback Energy.
“Diamondback Energy truly believes in investing into the West Texas area and we are so proud to be involved,”said Erin Bailey, head of Corporate Affairs for Diamondback Energy.
Midland Athletic Syndicate’s board is finalizing steps with the contractors and groundbreaking for the facility, which is set to begin in July. A new Executive Director for the facility will be selected and announced soon, Bailey said.
For more information and to support the Midland Athletic Syndicate, visit www.midlandas.org.
