Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?
Talk about a team with an identity crisis.
The Anaheim Angels are in the midst of causing a fan uproar in Orange County as they consider changing the name of the team from Anaheim (which originates from the German immigrants who founded the city) to Los Angeles (the name of the original expansion team). According to the OC Register and the LA Times, Arte Moreno is possibly doing this to expand the market for the team, much like the New York Yankees, but towards a Latin America market.
When the team moved from Los Angeles in 1966 to the then new Anaheim Stadium, the team changed its name to the California Angels. Most fans didn’t have a problem with this as it made the team marketable to the entire state. The only problem with using the name for a state instead of a city was the lack of a local identity for a team. Prior to the move the Angels played in Dodger Stadium, this would lead to a great marketing deal for the Dodgers, every time the “other” team was mention the real local team got free ad time.
Both Anaheim and Los Angeles City Councils are against Moreno’s proposed name change. The Los Angeles City Council is opposed to the name change as the team does not contribute to the city and Mayor Curt Pringle is against the change as it is in violation of the agreement made with Disney in 1997.
In the original agreement, Section 11(f) states: “Tenant will change the name of the Team to include the name ‘Anaheim’ therein, such change to be effective no later than the commencement of the 1997 season.” If Arte moves forward with the change then he will be hit with a lawsuit by the city. A change to the team’s name may be made in 2017 by paying a fee to the city, or Arte can choose the cheaper route by waiting until 2029 when the lease and agreement expires.
With the legal section out of the way, I personally feel Arte is committing a major mistake in changing the name of the team. When Disney owned them we got California replaced with Anaheim, but in exchange we got ugly periwinkle jerseys and a cartoonist logo (which never looked very menacing to the opposition). Disney then decided to turn Angel Stadium into a mini-theme park for the fans distracting us from the action on the field. I have since gotten past the “Miniature Golf Course” (taken directly from Robin Williams during the 2002 World Series) look in center field and have enjoyed the renovations to the stadium.
As a mini-plan holder I have enjoyed tons of games in my home town of Anaheim, but Arte if you change the name your going to have to lower beer prices so low, it’ll put you out of business. We won the World Series under the name “Anaheim,” won the AL West under “Anaheim,” and the fans in Boston defiantly were able to locate Anaheim on the map during the playoffs (and when I worked there wearing my Angels Hat).
Gee, I wonder what the rest of “the O.C.” thinks about this entire saga: Publicity stunt or Actual threat?
Oooh, man, this is such bad news. On Kevin & Bean the other morning, they brought up some good points, mainly that the hard-core Anaheim fans will be real unhappy with the name change. I think so too. I mean, people from Orange County defintely take pride in Anaheim, and changing the name will definitely alienate the very fans that attend the game.
And frankly, it’s not as if Anaheim was a small, podunk (sp) town in the middle of nowhere; like Michael said, Boston folk could find it on a map. Besides, we have Disneyland, the Mighty Ducks, etc. Keep ‘em the Anaheim Angles, I say, or risk losing the fans.
People are going to games when teams win, not what city they have attached to their name
Below is the message I sent to the head of a season ticket coop we belonged to for the past four years.
“Sorry to say that we will not be part of the “Los Angeles” Angels next year. Without their horse’s (Glaus, Salmon, Persy) & their heart (David) we will bow out after years of following them. Cheaper beer & $5.00 walkup seats available ONLY on game day will not, in my not so humble opinion, make the games more “fun”. I quit going to LA games years ago because I got tired of all the drunks who speak only in a foreign language. Since I’ve seen this type of thing at the Dodgers I will not be a party to it at Anaheim. Guess I’ll have to root for St. Louis. St. Louis may be doing the same things but I don’t have to watch it up close & personal. Jack, Linda & Kat. ”
I sent this yesterday so there will be extra seats available and on average $100.00 a game less spent at your shops & food counters. Last year we attended more than 40 games as a family. The money spend on gas driving from Apple Valley (more than 150 miles round trip) will now be spent on cable costs to view the St. Louis Cardinals. Wishing you the WORST of luck in the coming year.
This what I think…..
Below is the message I sent to the head of a season ticket coop we belonged to for the past four years.
“Sorry to say that we will not be part of the “Los Angeles” Angels next year. Without their horse’s (Glaus, Salmon, Persy) & their heart (David) we will bow out after years of following them. Cheaper beer & $5.00 walkup seats available ONLY on game day will not, in my not so humble opinion, make the games more “fun”. I quit going to LA games years ago because I got tired of all the drunks who speak only in a foreign language. Since I’ve seen this type of thing at the Dodgers I will not be a party to it at Anaheim. Guess I’ll have to root for St. Louis. St. Louis may be doing the same things but I don’t have to watch it up close & personal. Jack, Linda & Kat. ”
I sent this yesterday so there will be extra seats available and on average $100.00 a game less spent at your shops & food counters. Last year we attended more than 40 games as a family. The money spend on gas driving from Apple Valley (more than 150 miles round trip) will now be spent on cable costs to view the St. Louis Cardinals. Wishing you the WORST of luck in the coming year.