Unsettled in Anaheim: The Angels, the City, and a Stadium in Limbo
June 6, 2025 - Written by Jas Singh
Photo Credit : @AngelStadium - X
Truth be told the situation of our beloved Angels in the city of Anaheim is a confusing mess. But, recent news suggests at least for the next 13 years Angel fans have nothing to worry about. According to the LA Times, the team has exercised an option to extend their lease through 2032, with two additional three-year extensions, that can potentially keep the ballclub in the city until 2038. By 2038, I will be 32 years old and just like many of you praying this ballclub can reach a world series and continue to thrive in the amazing city of Anaheim.
An audit that was recently revealed points us in the direction that between 1996 and March 2025, the city was able to net $415,00 in net positive revenue. Now many might speculate why such a small amount? The reason is simply that the ballclub paid a prepayment of $76 million in base rent, which the city used to aid the team in stadium renovations and the revenue-sharing provisions of the lease, which are contingent on event criteria and attendance. Unfortunately, corruption has plagued the negotiations and been a factor in keeping the ballclub in its beloved city. Arte Moreno, the owner of the Angels, agreed to pay $325 million to the city in 2019 to purchase Angel Stadium and the adjacent land. Three years later in 2022, a deep rooted FBI investigation uncovered that then- Mayor Harry Sidhu had given the Angels confidential information, in exchange for $1 million towards his reelection campaign. This completely altered the negotiations as Sidhu later resigned and pleaded guilty to federal charges, receiving a two-month prison sentence and a $55,000 fine. In the wake of the scandal, the Anaheim City Council withheld the sale agreement, halting the transaction entirely.
Taking a deeper dive into the city’s faulty management of the stadium revealed some concerning notes. The audit that was discussed earlier showed that the city only conducted two financial audits in 12 years, despite regulations that say it is commonly done twice a year. With a view of a congested 5 highway, the stadium is older but still unquestionably one of the greatest places to watch major league baseball. However, the city lacked clear protocols in examining the stadium’s condition leading to difficulties with the team surrounding maintenance responsibilities. One clear example was when the team overpaid $95,000 in ticket revenue. The city immediately recognized the mistake and refunded the money. This unfortunately, points out a bigger problem concerning the extremely flawed system that is largely based on the Angels' self-reported financial information with minimal validation.
At this point in time, we are seeing no active negotiations for a new stadium deal or lease renegotiation. The city is frequently pressured to instill stricter oversight policies, consistently scan audits, conduct thorough inspections of the stadium, and create a transparent revenue tracking system. The relationship between the city and the ballclub has been clearly strained, but if we do not see a consensus on issues such as maintenance and revenue sharing, legal challenges will start to present themselves. Like many of you, lots of my childhood evenings have been in that stadium smackin 'on helmet nachos. Seeing this team not in Anaheim for future generations is an uncomfortable feeling, so it is important we cherish the team’s moments in the city. All we can do is hope and pray both sides can come to an agreement in the near future.
The relationship between the city and the Angels appears strained, and if both sides cannot find middle ground on issues like maintenance and revenue sharing, legal challenges could follow. For now, Angel Stadium remains the team’s home, but its long-term status is far from settled.
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