For nearly 20 years, the State College Spikes have brought summer excitement to Medlar Field through a combination of delicious hot dogs, family-themed events, and, of course, baseball. However, in a recent turn of events, Penn State University has filed a lawsuit against the team that is meant to evict them from the park and the hearts of the State College community. While the district judge, Casey McClain, ruled in favor of the university, the Spikes appealed to the County Court, and more litigation is still to come.
The two organizations agreed to a lease in 2005, allowing the Spikes to operate at Medlar as long as they paid a certain rent and renewed the agreement every 10 years. According to the university, the Spikes failed to renew their lease before the Sept. 25 deadline last year.
However, the team refused to leave, and after repeated warnings, Penn State was forced to take legal action. They also claim that the Spikes owe $1.7 million in termination rent, $29,238 in unpaid rent installments, and failed to maintain park property, like bathrooms and ventilation systems.
Furthermore, the university is using these allegations as a reason to force the Spikes to vacate the premises. They argue that they need the space for collegiate events such as the President’s Tailgate, an AG Progress Days reception, a World Campus summer graduation reception, and more.
“It’s sad because it shows that instead of focusing on the community, Penn State is making the eviction a financial issue,” sophomore baseball player Ben Gracie-Griffin said.
In their release statement, the Spikes argue that the university’s claims are entirely false and that they did renew their contract by the fall deadline. The team says that an eviction will not only hurt the program but also the interests of their thousands of Happy Valley fans.
“The Spikes provide State College with entertainment and an opportunity to connect with other people. The fun environment and inclusive community are pretty cool,” sophomore Adam Huggins said.
In the midst of this legal scramble, Penn State has said it is open to further negotiations with the Spikes administration to reestablish the lease agreements, but the team has shown no interest in meeting.
The Spikes represent so much to the community, both as a local view of professional baseball and as a fun experience for everyone involved.
“The games create an affordable experience that everybody can go to downtown. You can hang out with friends or just go on your own, and it’s very fun,” Griffin said.
“I like to see the young guys play, all the prospects on the come-up. It’s fun to go to the games and very entertaining,” freshman Nick Pozniak said.
Unfortunately, the Spikes have become victims of Penn State’s actions in a case that will end up hurting both the team and the community that loves them. Unless a consensus is reached, Happy Valley may be losing one of its most beloved summer gatherings, the State College Spikes.
