Photo credit: Midland College

What happened: Midland College says the City of Midland has asked the college to discontinue use of Christensen Stadium, raising questions about the baseball venue’s future despite a lease agreement that extends through 2040.

The college’s April 2026 Board of Trustees retreat packet disclosed the request, which outlines several possible paths forward, including renovating Christensen Stadium, constructing a new baseball facility, or renegotiating the college’s lease with the city.

The City of Midland did not respond to questions from The Permian Press about the request or its future plans for the stadium before publication.

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The big picture: The board packet states the current lease runs through 2040 but includes a provision allowing either party to terminate the agreement with 180 days’ notice. The documents did not indicate whether the city issued such a notice.

The packet outlined three possible options if Midland College can no longer rely on Christensen Stadium as its long-term home. The college estimated that renovating the existing stadium would cost $8-$10 million,  or that building a new stadium would cost approximately $15 million.

A third option would be to renegotiate the lease with the City of Midland, potentially extending the agreement and removing the 180-day termination provision in exchange for the college funding major renovations itself.

Go deeper: The packet states that Christensen Stadium has been part of Midland’s sports history since 1952. Prior to 2002, it was home to the Midland Cubs, Midland Angels, and Midland RockHounds. Since 2010, it has served as the home field for the Midland College Chaparrals, and the college shares it with the Midland Christian Mustangs and hosts various tournaments there.

What’s next: Neither the City of Midland nor Midland College has publicly addressed the stadium’s future since the April retreat.