Bakersfield has long been a California League town, indeed, 73 years, but the outdated conditions of Sam Lynn Ballpark have put a great strain on the relationship between the city and the league.
Bakersfield is an ideal location for minor league baseball with the size of the city and the environment for baseball, basically warm weather all season long. But the stadium is a huge drag on attendance, both with its outdated design and its location in the metropolitan area.
A move to Salinas, a previous Cal League city, has been rumored, but any plans to move north have been put on hold. The familiar issues that arise in any talks of a new ballpark, like Salinas would need, have reared their head and any plans to move forward have stalled.
So the Blaze stay, for now.
SOURCES
BLAZE IN BAKERSFIELD- FOR NOW by Kevin Riechard at BallparkDigest.com
BLAZE EYE SALINAS… by John Harte at BakersfieldCalifornian.com
