CITY BREAKS GROUND ON EXXONMOBIL SOCCER COMPLEX IN SW MIDLAND
(Feb. 12, 2025)
MIDLAND, TEXAS -- Midland City Council members, City of Midland staff and community leaders broke ground Wednesday (Feb. 12, 2025) on the construction of the premier soccer complex in the region.
The ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park will feature 62 fields of various sizes, as well as a splash park and other amenities. Its construction will allow Midland to host soccer tournaments, keep Midland Soccer Association games at one site and provide a signature park in southwest Midland.
City officials have stated that the “current budget” for the Beal Park transformation is $44.5 million. That includes $28 million from the City of Midland, $10 million from the Beal Foundation, $5 million from the Scharbauer Foundation for the development of a splash park and $1.5 from ExxonMobil.
““The groundbreaking of the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park marks an exciting step forward for our community, enhancing quality of life for our residents and setting the stage for future growth,” Mayor Lori Blong said. “This project is a testament to what can be achieved through strong public-private partnerships, bringing together city investment and private contributions to create a space that will serve Midland families for generations.
“Investing in our parks and recreational spaces is essential to building a thriving community, and Beal Park will provide new opportunities for sports, outdoor activities, and gathering spaces that benefit everyone. We are grateful for the collaboration that made this project possible and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on Midland.”
Phase 1 of the renovation project is expected to be complete at the end of 2025. Plans for Phases 2 and 3 have just started and should be complete at the end of July 2025. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion expected at the end of 2027. Phase 3 will begin in early 2028, with completion expected in September 2028.
At completion, an addition of 62 soccer fields of various sizes will be available, as well as additional restrooms and parking. Four of the new fields will have an artificial turf surface. New lighting and irrigation will be installed in the grass fields.
The first phase of the construction will also include clearing and grubbing of the mesquite in the park, and the addition of irrigation and seeding to create large grass areas.
The addition of the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park adds another sports tourism venue in our community, joining the pools and diving facilities at the COM Aquatics, the Bush Tennis Center, the football/soccer and baseball stadiums at the City of Midland’s Scharbauer Sports Complex and the yet-to-be-constructed Diamondback Energy Athletic Complex.
“This groundbreaking of the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park marks the beginning of an incredible project that will bring lasting benefits to our community,” District 4 Councilwoman Amy Stretcher Burkes said. “I’m proud to see this project in District 4 and excited for the positive impact this will have for years to come with our young families and children.
“When I was campaigning, I heard time and time again that families want more sports opportunities for the children to be able to stay in Midland and not continually travel to the Metroplex. This helps alleviate that and keep Midlanders in Midland and provides the opportunity to attract tourism here. A very important goal of mine is to be able to keep our tax dollars here.”