Midland Athletic Syndicate (MAS), a nonprofit formed by a group of Midland parents, broke ground on the Diamondback Energy Athletic Complex on Oct. 2. The project aims to provide a venue for hosting large sports tournaments and offering space for local athletes, reducing the need for families to travel to other cities for competitions.
MAS has garnered support from local foundations, including Scharbauer and FMH, as well as corporate sponsors like Diamondback, Permian Resources, Pioneer, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. The complex is designed to boost Midland’s ability to host sporting events and serve the community's youth.
Trovocie Jackson, a Midland native and former basketball coach, has been hired as the executive director of MAS. Jackson recently coached Burleson Centennial High School’s boys basketball team to championships in 2021 and 2022.
The approximately 115,000-square-foot complex will feature six full-size basketball courts, which can be converted to 12 volleyball courts, as well as a multi-sport turf space for indoor soccer and other sports. The facility will also include electronically controlled nets and scoreboards that lower from the ceiling. According to Jackson, the space will be versatile enough to host cheer or dance competitions.
“We have the space to legitimately turn this thing into anything we want to,” Jackson said.
The complex will include a second-floor spectator area, male and female locker rooms, player lounges, and flex spaces for meetings and events. An outdoor patio will be available for spectators to relax, and snacks and drinks will be sold in a convenience-style market. A pro shop will offer sports gear as well as Midland Athletic Syndicate-branded merchandise.
Parking will be shared with the nearby Scharbauer Sports Complex, and MAS envisions local hotels being filled with athletes and families during tournament weekends. The construction is expected to take 18 months, with a tentative opening date in Feb. 2026. Jackson noted that the complex already has scheduled events lined up.
Beyond tournaments, MAS plans to make the facility accessible to local youth. The organization intends to operate with an “open gym” policy, allowing young athletes to use the facility without the usual membership fees.
“It’s going to offer opportunities to provide some added mentorship for these young boys and girls in the area; establish good, strong, solid relationships so that we can transform a few kids,” Jackson said. “Let them know that we love them, that they have a safe place to come and burn off some energy.”