Cal State Long Beach and the Long Beach City Council are in the final stages of an agreement that, if approved, will pave the way for major improvements to Blair Field ahead of the Long Beach Baseball Club’s inaugural season.

The agreement, which will go before the council Tuesday, would amend the college’s 55-year lease — signed in 2009 — to increase base rent from $338,000 to $494,700.

The college’s revenue breakpoint will also rise, meaning it can earn a higher revenue threshold before having to pay more in rent. And all sporting exhibitions or special events put on by college or approved groups will have to supply at least 10 free tickets to the city.


Blair Field in Long Beach, Friday, July 18, 2025. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Paul Freedman, founder of the newly formed Long Beach Baseball Club, an independent league team, said Sunday the club’s owners have compiled a list of preferred improvements, including its irrigation system to the guest team locker room and batter’s eye.

They hope to have the fixes completed ahead of the club’s regular season in June, and likely work around the university team’s season, which runs February to May.

“It will be noticeable, we hope,” Freedman said, saying it will focus on the player’s experience on the field. “We hope that this will be a different level of baseball that’s ever been played at Blair before, and the environment and the ballpark will be upgraded to hopefully match that.”