Sam Lynn Ballpark under renovation

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- If your first move was to glance at a calendar, that's perfectly normal. With the baseball season just 22 days away, Bakersfield Blaze owners Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway have made it a priority to get Sam Lynn Ballpark into its best shape in decades.

Starting at the point of arrival, fans will be excited to drive across and find parking on pavement, rather than the dirt lot of years past. Approach the front gate to find it is being completely repainted, with lush green and relaxing beige making the gray entrance a memory.

Upon making one's way into the stadium, what once was a gray, looming grandstand rear is, like the entrance, getting a full stucco-and-paint makeover to match the lighter, earthy colors of the nearby public parks. A remodeled women's restroom to the left and a freshly carpeted merchandise store to the right lead to the changes within the concessions and seating areas.

Before hitting the box seats, a fan needs a snack. The main concessions stand will remain in its current functionality, but the third-base concessions stand has been carted away entirely, making room for a host of concessions kiosks. These individual service points will help shorten lines and improve efficiency.

The seating areas are getting a heavy dose of improvement as well. The small satellite grandstand tucked to the right of the concourse is being removed, and all new seats are being installed in the lower first-base reserved seating area. The ever-popular picnic boxes at the top of the main grandstand are halfway through getting outfitted with new wood and paint.

And of course, the field: New sod will assist the Blaze grounds crew in keeping the field in great shape through the warm summer, and a new freshly minted outfield wall will allow for greater visibility both for the fans and players.