Penn State, Spikes Settle Medlar Field Lease Dispute
The State College Spikes will remain at Medlar Field under an agreement that resolves the university's eviction lawsuit against the club.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Baseball
Penn State and the State College Spikes have reached an agreement allowing the Spikes to remain at Medlar Field, ending a lease dispute. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the parties jointly asked a Centre County judge to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice.
Why it matters
The settlement keeps the minor league baseball club in its longtime home ballpark in State College after Penn State had sought to evict it earlier this year. The resolution also closes a dispute over unpaid rent and lease renewal notice that had been working through the courts.
Penn State had claimed the Spikes owed $1.7 million in termination rent and $29,238 in unpaid rent installments. The settlement's financial terms were not disclosed, leaving the outcome of those claimed amounts unknown.
The players
Penn State
The Pennsylvania State University is a public research university whose Lubrano Park and Medlar Field property is the subject of the lease dispute.
State College Spikes
The State College Spikes are a collegiate summer baseball club that has played at Medlar Field since its 20th anniversary season and now compete in the MLB Draft League.
The details
The dispute stemmed from Penn State's Aug. 18 notice that the lease would terminate on Sept. 30, which the club contested by arguing it had not failed to provide notice of renewal. A magisterial district judge granted the university possession in February, and the Spikes appealed that ruling to the Centre County Court of Common Pleas before the parties reached the agreement.
Timeline
April 3, 2025: Deadline for the Spikes to notify the university of their intent to renew the lease.
September 30, 2025: Lease termination date set by Penn State.
October 1, 2025: Penn State posted vacate notices and filed a landlord/tenant complaint.
June 2, 2026: The Spikes begin their 80-game season in Trenton.
Roadmap
The Spikes will begin their 80-game sixth season in the MLB Draft League on June 2 in Trenton, with their home opener against Mahoning Valley set for June 8 at Medlar Field. The settlement keeps the club at Medlar Field for that schedule.
Fans will be able to watch the Spikes at Medlar Field for the June 8 home opener against Mahoning Valley. The settlement means the club's home schedule at the ballpark continues without interruption.
The takeaway
The agreement keeps the Spikes at Medlar Field and ends a lease fight that had moved through both magisterial and common pleas courts. Readers following the club can expect the home schedule to continue as planned.
What happens next
The Spikes' 80-game season begins June 2 in Trenton, and their home opener against Mahoning Valley is scheduled for June 8 at Medlar Field.
Further reading
For more on the local club, see Baseball coverage in State College.
