That assurance came in a recent stipulation filed jointly by the university and the team, stating plainly that “Spikes Baseball will hold its 2026 season at Medlar Field.” The filing marks the first formal confirmation that the Spikes’ home schedule — including their June 5 home opener — will proceed at the ballpark on Penn State’s campus despite the ongoing lease dispute.

The stipulation was filed as both sides agreed to pause the litigation and attempt to resolve the case through formal mediation. That session is scheduled for June 16 and will be overseen by retired judge Lawrence Stengel. Attorneys for both parties also appeared before Centre County Judge Brian Marshall earlier this spring, where they reiterated their expectation that the Spikes will continue playing at Medlar Field this season.

The dispute began when Penn State, which owns Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, accused the Spikes of failing to properly renew a 10-year lease option by an April deadline. The university filed suit seeking to evict the team, and in February, District Judge Casey McClain granted Penn State possession of the property. The Spikes appealed that ruling, keeping the case active in county court.

Penn State has argued in filings that it has been forced to “subsidize” the Spikes at a “significant and unfair cost,” and the university is seeking roughly $1.7 million in termination rent alone. The Spikes, meanwhile, have maintained that the lawsuit is without merit and have accused Penn State of attempting to drive the organization out of business.

Photo courtesy of STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Fans at a recent State College Spikes game hold their hands up during a recent promotion.

During that hearing, attorneys for both sides signaled a desire to prevent the dispute from spilling into the 2027 season. Spikes attorney David A. Strassburger said the team is interested in mediation, while Penn State attorney Philip K. Miles III said he would need to consult with the university. Spikes chairman and managing partner Chuck Greenberg and team president and general manager Scott Walker attended the hearing online but did not speak.

Penn State had asked Marshall to impose temporary operating guidelines while the lawsuit proceeds, but the shift toward mediation appears to have eased immediate pressure on both sides. The joint stipulation, along with the request to pause the lawsuit until after the June 16 mediation session, signals a temporary cooling of tensions — at least long enough for the Spikes to take the field this summer.

Still, questions remain about the long-term future of the franchise at Medlar Field. While both sides expressed hope that the dispute will not affect the 2027 season, no agreement has been reached, and the mediation outcome will likely determine whether the Spikes can continue playing at the ballpark beyond this year.

For now, though, the team’s 20th anniversary season will go on as planned. The Spikes are set to open at home on June 5, returning to the stadium they have played in since 2006. The legal fight might be far from over, but the immediate uncertainty surrounding where the Spikes will play has been resolved — at least for 2026.