Editing Bakersfield, California (section)

== Sports ==
{{Main|Sports in Bakersfield}}
[[File:Bakersfield vs Las Vegas.jpg|thumb|A minor league hockey game being played at Bakersfield's [[Dignity Health Arena]]]]
Bakersfield is not represented in any of the five major sports leagues: [[NFL]], [[MLB]], [[NBA]], [[NHL]], or [[MLS]]. The closest major sports teams are in Los Angeles, and they have many fans in Bakersfield. The city is home to two minor league professional sports teams: the [[Bakersfield Condors]] ([[American Hockey League]]) and the [[Bakersfield Train Robbers]] baseball club ([[Pecos League]]). It was previously home to two versions of the [[af2]]'s [[Bakersfield Blitz]] (the first played from 2002 to 2004 before relocating to Fresno and becoming the [[Central Valley Coyotes]] and the second played from 2004 to 2006), the [[California League]]'s [[Bakersfield Blaze]] baseball team, which ceased operations after the 2016 season. A third minor league team, the [[Bakersfield Jam]] of the [[D-League]] (basketball), was relocated to Prescott Valley, Arizona, in 2016. The [[Bakersfield Majestics]] is an expansion team in [[The Basketball League]] that began play in 2022.

In addition, Bakersfield has two colleges with strong athletics programs. The [[Bakersfield Renegades]] represent [[Bakersfield College]], a community college with 19 varsity sports, the most notable being football.<ref>[http://www.bc.cc.ca.us/athletics/ Athletics] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529004752/http://www.bc.cc.ca.us/athletics/ |date=May 29, 2010 }}. Bakersfield College. Retrieved May 25, 2010.</ref> It competes in the [[Western State Conference]], which is a part of the [[California Community College Athletic Association]]. The [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners]] represent [[California State University, Bakersfield]] and sponsor 15 varsity sports, the most notable being basketball.<ref>[http://www.gorunners.com/ Home Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219032247/http://www.gorunners.com/ |date=February 19, 2015 }}. California State University, Bakersfield. Retrieved May 25, 2010.</ref> It competes in [[NCAA Division I]] as a member of the [[Big West Conference]]<ref>{{cite web |title=CSUB To Western Athletic Conference in 2013 |date=October 9, 2012 |url=http://www.gorunners.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13300&ATCLID=205705381 |publisher=Cal State University-Bakersfield |access-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113113129/http://www.gorunners.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13300&ATCLID=205705381 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bakersfield is home to Colby Lewis from the MLB team, the Texas Rangers, Stephen Neal from the Super Bowl Champions, New England Patriots. NFL players Joey Porter, David and Derek Carr also have called Bakersfield home, and still have some connection to Bakersfield.

[[File:Herrick 1911 Tevis Cup Bakersfield.jpg|thumb|[[Harvey Herrick]] and his [[riding mechanic|mechanician]] in Bakersfield during the [[1911 AAA Championship Car season|1911]] Tevis Cup]]

Bakersfield is also located near a variety of motor racing venues. Current racing sports include drag strip (at [[Famoso Raceway]]), dirt (at Bakersfield Speedway), road course (at [[Buttonwillow Raceway]]), and a paved 1/2 mile oval (at [[Kern County Raceway Park]]), which replaced [[Mesa Marin Raceway]], a [[NASCAR]] associated oval track, that was demolished in 2004. A 1/3 mile dirt track has also opened on the Kern County Raceway Park property. The National Jet Boat Association holds drag boat races at [[Lake Ming]]. Bakersfield is also the hometown of four-time [[Indianapolis 500]] winner and three-time [[List of American open-wheel racing national champions|American National Champion]] [[Rick Mears]]; as well as the [[2007 Daytona 500]] winner, and 2014 [[NASCAR Sprint Cup]] champion [[Kevin Harvick]]. The town also hosted an [[Indy car racing|Indy car]] event during the [[1911 AAA Championship Car season|1911 season]], won by [[Harvey Herrick]].

Bakersfield has many venues for a variety of different sports. One of the most notable and versatile is the [[Dignity Health Arena]] (formerly the Centennial Garden, Rabobank Arena, and Mechanics Bank Arena), which hosts concerts, shows, and sporting events. In addition, Bakersfield has facilities that can host tournament games. The Kern County Soccer Field has 24 full-size light soccer fields.<ref>[http://kerncountysoccerpark.com/1.html Home Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205085315/http://kerncountysoccerpark.com/1.html |date=February 5, 2010 }}. Kern County Soccer Park. Retrieved May 25, 2010.</ref> Also currently under construction is the Bakersfield Sports Village. When completed, it will have 16 baseball fields, six football fields, and 16 soccer fields.<ref>[http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/cityhighlights/bakersfield_sports_village/index.htm Bakersfield Sports Village] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014045519/http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/cityhighlights/Bakersfield_Sports_Village/index.htm |date=October 14, 2007 }}. City of Bakersfield. Retrieved May 25, 2010.</ref>