Worth A Visit: Bakersfield

Worth a Visit: Bakersfield Away from the urban sprawl of coastal California

Communities, this Central Valley city has a friendly, down-to-earth ambience sure to appeal to visiting sports teams. Within a four-hour drive of most of California’s population, it offers outstanding baseball and aquatic facilities, a track for motocross (BMX) races and one of the state’s largest soccer parks. Groups in Bakersfield also have a wide choice of entertainment and spectator sports options.

Bakersfield is a great place for sports groups looking to get away from the big city. Sports fans will enjoy seeing Bakersfield’s several minor league sports teams including the Bakersfield Blaze, Jam and Condors. There are also various facilities that teams can use and some crowd-pleasing attractions to enjoy in their down time. With great opportunities for outdoor and indoor activities, Bakersfield is sure to keep visitors happy.

Contact: Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (866) 425-7353, visitbakersfield.com.

Places to PlaySam Lynn Ballpark: This historic ballpark is the only park where the batter faces west. It is home to the Single-A minor league baseball team, Bakersfield Blaze, and can be reserved by youth teams and leagues. It has a capacity of 3,500 and the shortest center field in professional baseball at 354 feet. Concessions and parking are available at this 58-year-old ballpark.

B AKERSFIELD : Fun Facts

Kern County Soccer Park: This soccer facility is one of the largest in California. It has 25 fields–21 regulation-sized fields and four that can be modified. The complex also features parking for over 1,500 cars, concessions and separate tournament headquarter and referee buildings. Some fields can be lighted if needed. Not only can this park be used to host tournaments and leagues but can also host a number of outdoor events.

McMurtrey Aquatic Center: This center has a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool with diving boards and blocks and an 8,551-square-foot recreation pool with a double water slide and a water volleyball area. The facility hosts competitions as well as recreation swimming, water polo, water aerobics, diving and SCUBA lessons. Showers, locker rooms and a snack bar are available.

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Bakersfield was named after Colonel Thomas Baker, who settled in the Southern San Joaquin Valley in the middle 19th century. His “field” was known far and wide by travelers who used it as a stopping point during their travels.

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Sam Lynn Ballpark is the only remaining professional baseball stadium in the United States facing west. Home game start times are often changed each month depending on the position of the sun at dusk.

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Bakersfield is home to the largest carrotproducing operations in the world, Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms.

Aera Park: This new park, home to the Southwest Bakersfield Little League, has 11 baseball diamonds (three lighted), spectator stands, concession stand and parking spaces for over 400 vehicles.

Metro BMX: Located in the Bakersfield Blaze Baseball Complex, this ABA-sanctioned bicycle motocross (BMX) facility offers racers plenty of space to ride. Weekly races are held and riding lessons are taught by an instructor who has ranked No. 3 in the world.

The track is also open for practice and is available to people of all ages. Metro BMX this past May hosted the ABA U.S. Nationals, which attracted more than 1,000 riders, including members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and its three Olympic medalists.

Contact: Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (866) 425-7353, visitbakersfield.com.

Fan Friendly Bakersfield Speedway: Stock-car and open-wheel racing takes place at this speedway from March through November.

The track is a 1/3-mile-high banked clay oval and is known as the fastest in the West.

AMF Southwest Lanes: Open bowl, leagues and clubs are available at this bowling alley, which along with Regency Lanes, will host the 2010 USBC Open Championship Tournament between the weeks of May and July. Between 400 and 800 bowlers are expected during each week of the state tournament. Aside from hosting the tournament, Southwest Lanes offers an entertaining bowling experience with extreme bowling, featuring cosmic lights, music and bowling challenges.

Rabobank Arena: This arena offers a wide variety of entertainment including concerts, theater productions and other shows and is the home to the California State University-Bakersfield’s basketball teams, the Bakersfield Jam, an NBA D-league team; and the Bakersfield Condors, an affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. The arena will also be the host of the State Wrestling Championship Tournaments from 2010 to 2012. Bakersfield has been hosting the event since 2004 and attracts thousands of wrestlers, spectators and media each year.

R OAD T RIP

Located in California’s Central Valley region, Bakersfield is accessible by Interstate 5 and Highway 99. If groups are traveling by air, there are two airports available.

Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield offers flights to various destinations around the country via United Express and US Airways. Los Angeles International Airport is located two hours south of Bakersfield and offers daily flights by major airlines. An airport bus provides service from Bakersfield to LAX. For those traveling by train, there is an Amtrak station in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield not only has its share of sports and attractions, but also has a wide choice of restaurants and hotels without the big-city feel. Youth groups will feel right at home in this Central Valley town.

Bakersfield Ice Sports Center: This facility offers public skating, skating lessons and adult and youth hockey leagues. There is also a pro shop that sells skates, apparel and equipment and also offers skate sharpening and repair and service for any damaged skating equipment.

California Living Museum: This unique museum showcases native California animals, plants, fossils and artifacts. The animals at this facility are injured wildlife that are being rehabilitated with the hope of being released back into their natural habitats. Over 80 species of animals are featured with exhibits on black bears, birds of prey and reptiles as well as several endangered species. The museum also has replicated plant communities and a butterfly and hummingbird garden.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace: This venue is a favorite for country music fans looking for a night of great music and food.

Concerts and live shows are played year-round, and there is a museum/gift shop featuring memorabilia Buck Owens had collected over the years.

Contact: Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (866) 425-7353, visitbakersfield.com.