Photo credit: Midland Athletic Syndicate

What to watch: A new era of youth sports is coming to Midland. The Midland Athletic Syndicate (MAS), a $42 million, 115,000-square-foot facility designed to serve athletes of all ages and skill levels, is set to open soon. The facility is designed to bring multiple sports under one roof, including basketball, volleyball, and indoor soccer.

The facility will also include futsal, a version of soccer played indoors with a low-bounce ball, and pickleball courts. MAS programs will begin as early as age 8, with opportunities expanding through middle school and high school, including club teams and other organized sports. The organization plans to offer discounts for families with more than one child and provide a mix of paid and free opportunities.

The big picture: The facility sits on 4.1 acres near the Scharbauer Sports Complex and is backed by a long-term lease agreement with the City of Midland, potentially lasting up to 99 years, positioning it as a long-term community investment.

“This isn’t just a business,” MAS Communications Director Aida Bakhos said. “The people behind this are from Midland. They understand sports, and they want to give back to the community and help athletes grow.”

MAS said a goal is to reduce travel while increasing competition in the Midland and Odessa area. They plan to host tournaments nearly every weekend in response to strong demand from families tired of frequent traveling. The organization expects teams from across Texas to come to Midland rather than play elsewhere.

“We want to help people grow in every part of the game. Not just as players, but as a whole.” Bakhos said. “This is about creating a place where families want to be.”

MAS will also host elite, high-level training experiences, including a Juventus soccer camp, one of the top clubs in Italy, bringing international-level instruction to Midland’s growing soccer community. MAS also plans to offer personal training focused on specific sports and positions, as well as to host workshops and certification opportunities for coaches and officials.

“This isn’t a participation-based model,” Bakhos said. “It will be competitive, but we’ll also offer opportunities for everyone, including free camps during the summer and school year. We will also have Unified Leagues for athletes with special needs.”

Go deeper: Bakhos, originally from Lebanon, moved to Midland in high school and attended Lee High School. She is a professional basketball player and international competitor with a background in the U.S. military. She said that her combined experience gives her a unique perspective on the project and influences how she aims to create opportunities for young athletes.

“Growing up in Lebanon, I didn’t always have access to facilities or support,” she said. “That’s why this matters so much to me. It’s about giving kids a place where they can grow, feel supported, and be pushed to be better.”

Bakhos said she wants to help guide young athletes, whether that’s all the way to the pro level or just to enjoy the sport. She said her push is to keep them motivated by giving them the right environment.

“I hope people look back and see that we helped create opportunities for the next generation,” she said. “Whether that’s playing in college, going pro, or just learning life lessons, sports should be fun, but they should also teach discipline and work ethic.”

What’s next: Registration for several upcoming programs is already open. Volleyball athletes can sign up for the PowerCore 360 Hitting & Jumping Camp on July 11–12 for ages 12–18. Gold Medal Squared all-skills camps will take place July 13–16 for incoming seventh and eighth-graders. The Juventus soccer camp is set for June 22–24 for ages 8–16. More information is available at midlandas.org.