Long Beach has long been a baseball city. And few places embody that legacy quite like Blair Field. This historic and city-owned stadium has served generations of players and fans. It’s home to the Long Beach State’s Dirtbags. And it’s also hosted independent league pros like the Long Beach Breakers (which folded in 2002) and Armada (which folded in 2009, both under the now-defunct Western Baseball League). This isn’t to mention the other team that folded in 1996 and went under three name alterations during its run: Long Beach Barracuda, the Long Beach Franchise, and Long Beach Riptide.
Now, that legacy may be poised for revival thanks to the Long Beach Baseball Club.
As part of Mayor Rex Richardson’s broader Grow Long Beach initiative—a strategy aimed at boosting the city’s economic development and cultural offerings—the city is exploring a return of professional baseball to Blair Field. Enter the Long Beach Baseball Club, a new independent professional organization that aims to bring high-level baseball back to the city by the 2026 season.
And they want to do it in partnership with Cal State Long Beach.
What is the Long Beach Baseball Club?
The Long Beach Baseball Club—or LBBC—envisions a modern, community-rooted ballclub that not only pays homage to Long Beach’s deep baseball heritage but also creates an in-game experience that’s intimate, elevated, and accessible. At the heart of this vision? Blair Field—revered for its central location, professional-level amenities, and the kind of history you just can’t build from scratch.
Preliminary talks between LBBC and CSULB have already begun, with the club outlining a proposal that includes privately funded investments for facility upgrades—improvements necessary to meet league standards, ensure long-term preservation, and enhance the fan experience. But this isn’t about replacing the college game. CSULB would retain primary use of Blair Field, with priority scheduling rights and dedicated public-access days still protected. Professional games would be integrated around that foundation, not in place of it.
LBBC is also committed to community programming and engagement—an effort to ensure that Blair Field doesn’t just become a stage for baseball, but a shared civic asset that invites all Long Beach residents to take part in its story.
What league would the Long Beach Baseball Club be under?
If it moves ahead, the plan would see the new pro team share Blair Field with CSULB starting in May 2026, marking the return of independent league baseball to Long Beach for the first time in over a decade. The team would join the Pioneer Baseball League as its 13th franchise in a league that came fully indpendent in 2021 after separating itself from as an affiliated league with Major League Baseball.
Among its backers: Paul Freedman, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers—the scrappy, independent league team born in the wake of the A’s departure and already making waves in Northern California. Ena Patel, head of soccer operations at Angel City Football Club, would be the president of the club.
Will the city be formally involved in operating the team?
For its part, the City of Long Beach wouldn’t be operating the team or managing the stadium—but its role as a strategic facilitator could prove critical. From helping negotiate terms that align with public use goals, to addressing potential neighborhood concerns around traffic, noise, and safety, the city’s involvement would ensure that the project serves not just baseball fans, but the broader Long Beach community.
If successful, this partnership could inject new energy into a storied stadium, bring professional baseball back to Long Beach, and cement Blair Field’s place not just in the past—but in the city’s future.
The Long Beach City Council is set to vote Tuesday on whether the city should move forward with studying the feasibility of hosting a professional baseball team.
