SAN DIEGO — Alicia Mink needed to see her Angels play Monday. She by no means had been to Petco Park.
“Super nice,” she stated. “Love the stadium.”
Petco Park is the very best ballpark in Southern California, by far — built-in right into a vibrant neighborhood; spacious and trendy; filled with delectable food and drinks choices; a group gathering spot relatively than a venue that sits largely idle each winter and each different week through the summer time.
Angel Stadium is none of these issues. The town of Anaheim wish to change that.
Followers arrive to Petco Park earlier than an opening-day recreation between the Braves and the Padres om March 27 in San Diego.
(Gregory Bull / Related Press)
On Tuesday, the Anaheim Metropolis Council is scheduled to debate town’s strategic plan. Included among the many 21 aims through the coming yr: “Address the future of Angel Stadium and the surrounding property.”
The Angels’ stadium lease permits Angels proprietor Arte Moreno to manage improvement on a lot of the property via 2038, though town retains the correct to construct on roughly a 3rd of the parking zone. Moreno has not publicly dedicated to barter with town for a possible stadium deal.
The town’s priorities embody getting out of the enterprise of proudly owning a stadium, securing the Angels in Anaheim for many years to return, producing tax income from a ballpark village atop the parking zone, and including sorely wanted housing inside any improvement.
What in regards to the followers’ priorities?
On Monday, I spoke with greater than a dozen of the Angels followers at Petco Park. There have been loads of them throughout the sellout crowd, so loud once they cheered Zach Neto’s dwelling run that Padres followers felt compelled to drown them out.
If Angel Stadium had been renovated, the Angels followers I polled virtually unanimously advised two prime priorities to borrow from Petco Park. The primary: the house and spirit of Gallagher Sq., the park behind heart discipline.
When the Padres are usually not taking part in, it’s a preferred live performance venue, in addition to a public park with a playground, canine run and paddleball courts. When the Padres are taking part in, there’s a Wiffle ball diamond for youths, surrounded by large bats and baseballs to climb, a slide, and hills to roll down. For adults, there’s a large promenade, concession stands, and the sport on a extremely large display.
A common view of Gallagher Sq. at Petco Park earlier than a recreation between the Giants and Padres on March 31, 2024, in San Diego.
(Brandon Sloter / Getty Pictures)
“I like the vibe of it,” Cathi Phillips stated.
The second prime precedence: the top-tier meals and drinks, significantly from distinguished native eating places and craft breweries. Two followers I spoke with every volunteered the identify of his favourite San Diego restaurant model right here: Hodad’s (burgers) for one, Seaside Market (tri-tip) for the opposite.
“There’s a variety of drinks and food we are missing immensely at Angel Stadium,” Adam Alexander stated.
Additionally notable: Petco Park opens to the neighborhood, with downtown views. A ballpark village in Anaheim might present related views, however for now Angel Stadium seems out onto the 57 Freeway.
Petco Park opened in 2004. Angel Stadium opened in 1966 and underwent its final main renovation in 1997.
For now, town of Anaheim is finishing a property evaluation to find out what number of a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands is likely to be wanted to maintain the stadium protected and sound for the approaching a long time.
The facilities is likely to be secondary, besides that the income from them might assist pay for the renovations. And, with two stadium offers collapsing within the final decade, there is probably not a 3rd.
If not, the response can be combined among the many followers I polled Monday. One known as Angel Stadium “archaic.” One other disagreed, however solely gently: “It’s not the Oakland Coliseum.”
The stadium stays snug and practical. On the very least, Jaime Diaz stated, the entry is nice.
“Can’t go wrong with the parking,” he stated. “Easy to get in and out.”
And, for longtime followers, an previous stadium remains to be their stadium.
“We have a fondness for it because we grew up there,” Rebecca Fuerst stated. “It feels like home.”
