Angel Stadium
The Big A) (1984–1994) |
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, better known simply as Angel Stadium, is a baseball stadium located in Anaheim, California, United States. Since its opening 58 years ago in 1966, it has served as the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels. It also served as the home stadium of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1994.
The stadium is often referred to by its unofficial nickname The Big A, coined by
Aside from professional baseball and football, Angel Stadium has hosted
The stadium also houses the studios and offices of the Angels' owned and operated flagship radio station, KLAA (830 AM).
Location and "Big A"
Angel Stadium and its surrounding parking lot are roughly bounded by Katella Avenue to the north, the
The landmark "Big A" sign, which originally served as a scoreboard support in left field, is located near the eastern boundary of the parking lot. The halo located near the top of the 230-foot (70 m) tall, 210-ton sign was once illuminated following games in which the Angels won (both at home and on the road), a practice broadcaster Victor Rojas was known for referring to by saying "Light that baby up!" after a victory.[10] Since at least the 2023 season, the halo remains lit at all times, although it shines brighter when the Angels win.[11]
History
Beginnings
Angel Stadium has been the home of the Angels since their move from Los Angeles. On August 31, 1964, ground was broken for Anaheim Stadium and in 1966, the then-California Angels moved into their new home after having spent four seasons renting Dodger Stadium (referred to in Angels games as Chavez Ravine Stadium) from the Dodgers. (In their inaugural season of 1961, the Angels played their home games at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field.)[12]
The stadium was built on a parcel of about 160 acres (0.65 km2) of flat land originally used for agricultural purposes by the Allec, Russell, and Knutzen families[1] in the southeast portion of Anaheim. Consistent with many major-league sports stadiums built in the 1960s, it is located in a suburban area, though one that is host to major tourist attractions.[13]
The field dimensions (333 feet)[citation needed] were derived from a scientific study conducted by the Angels. Based on the air density at normal game times (1:30 pm and 8 pm), the Angels tried to formulate dimensions that were fairly balanced between pitcher, hitter, and average weather conditions. The Angels tinkered with those dimensions several times, expanding or contracting parts of the outfield by a few feet, to refine that balance. 396 feet (120.7 m) is the second shortest center-field in the American League, and tied for 4th-shortest in the major leagues with Petco Park behind only Fenway Park at 389 feet (118.6 m), Oracle Park at 391 feet (119.2 m) and Dodger Stadium at 395 ft (120.4 m). Despite this, Angels Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan still threw two of his seven no-hitters in the ballpark, alongside 2,416 of his 5,714 career strikeouts.[14]
The Rams
In the late 1970s, Los Angeles Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom was looking for a more modern venue than the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and also wanted a stadium small enough to prevent Rams games from being blacked out on local television. The Coliseum seated almost 100,000 people, and the Rams had trouble filling it even in their best years. Rosenbloom eventually brokered a deal by which the Rams would move from Los Angeles to an expanded Anaheim Stadium. To add more seats (eventually about 23,000) for football games, the mezzanine and upper decks were extended completely around the playing field, resulting in a roughly trapezoidal, completely enclosed stadium. Elevated bank of bleachers was built in right and left fields, and temporary seats were placed underneath to be pulled out for football games.
Additionally, the
As with the addition of football seats to Candlestick Park a decade before to accommodate the rival San Francisco 49ers, the changes ultimately disadvantaged the Angels and their fans. Originally no seat had been further than 109 feet (33 m) from the field when first designed for baseball,[15] but afterwards this was no longer the case. Also, while the expanded capacity allowed the Angels to set attendance records that still stand today, on most occasions even crowds of 40,000 left swaths of unusable and empty seats. It also did not completely solve the television blackout issue which inspired the Rams to move from the Coliseum, as the stadium would not sell out if the Rams weren't competitive or if the opposing team did not draw their own fans to Anaheim to sell out the game.
The expansion was completed in time for the 1980 NFL season, and the Rams played in Anaheim Stadium from then until their move to St. Louis after the 1994 season.[16] The Rams would later return to Los Angeles in 2016, playing their games at the Memorial Coliseum again for four seasons; the team moved into the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in 2020.
The January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake on Martin Luther King Jr. Day caused the left-field Jumbotron to collapse onto the upper deck seats beneath it. As the Rams and Angels were both out of season and it occurred in the pre-dawn hours, nobody was injured.[17] The damaged section was deconstructed and rebuilt with a new scoreboard structure and Jumbotron, eliminating the A-frame spire that evoked the Big A.[18]
The Disney era
In 1996,
Despite the fact that much of the stadium was still a hard-hat zone, the demolition and construction being only half-completed, the Angels played their 1997 season in Anaheim. Fans were greeted by a restored view of the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Mountains, the Brea Hills, and the 57 freeway beyond the outfield.
Work that did not interfere with game play continued throughout the 1997 season, with major renovations resuming in the winter of 1997. These included the installation of outfield bleacher pavilions, a video display board and an out-of-town scoreboard below the right field seats. All of the multicolored seats were replaced by green seats. The exterior of the stadium was also renovated. The concrete structure and ramps were painted a combination of green and sandstone. Much of the façade of the stadium was torn down to create a more open feeling for visitors.[20]
The most notable feature of the entire renovation, however, was a "California Spectacular" in which geysers erupt and a stream cascades down a mountainside (
The field dimensions of the renovated stadium became somewhat asymmetrical, with the 8-foot (2.4 m) high fence in right center field (which earlier hid the football-only bleacher section) replaced by a 19-foot (5.8 m) high wall which contains a scoreboard displaying out-of-town scores of other games. A plaza was built around the perimeter of the stadium, and inside are statues depicting longtime Angel owner and chairman Gene Autry and Michelle Carew, daughter of former Angel Rod Carew, who died of leukemia at the age of 18.
The main entrance includes two giant Angels hats complete with
In 1998, the stadium was renamed Edison International Field of Anaheim after local utility Edison International reached a deal giving it naming rights over the stadium for 20 years, and during this time, the stadium was referred to as the "Big Ed". However, after the 2003 season, Edison International exercised its option to exit the sponsorship deal. On December 29, 2003, the Angels announced that from then on the stadium would be known as Angel Stadium (in full, Angel Stadium of Anaheim); Disney sold the Angels around this time as well.[citation needed]
Video improvements and cancelled sale
In 2009,
During the 2017-2018 offseason, the Angels upgraded the existing video boards in left and right field. The new left field video board measures 5,488 sq ft (509.9 m2), while the new right field board measures 9,500 sq ft (880 m2), the fourth largest scoreboard in MLB. In addition to this, the out of town scoreboard was upgraded, new video ribbons stretch from foul pole to foul pole, and a new sound system was added. Because of the new out of town scoreboard, the Angels moved the home run line in right field down from 18 feet (5.5 m) to 8 feet (2.4 m), though the height of the right field wall remains the same.[24][25]
The Angels opted out of their lease in October 2018, largely to avoid a contractual provision which would have forced them to remain in the stadium until 2029, though the club then had no new stadium proposals or moving plans.[26] In December 2019, the city of Anaheim agreed to sell the stadium and surrounding land to an Arte Moreno-affiliated management company for $325 million, with the team committed to remain in Anaheim until at least 2050, with options to remain until at least 2065.[27] The deal, made behind closed doors, has led to allegations of corruption and violations of the state's Surplus Land Act. An ongoing FBI investigation into the city's internal affairs and the stadium sale eventually led to the resignation of Anaheim mayor Harry Sidhu on May 23, 2022, putting the stadium's pending sale into question.[28][29] On May 24, 2022, the Anaheim City Council voted to cancel the sale to Moreno's SRB Management, in light of the corruption probe.[30]
Seating capacity
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Notable events
Baseball
The stadium was host to the 1967 MLB All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game to be played on
It hosted seven American League Division Series (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014) and six American League Championship Series (1979, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2005, and 2009). Most notably, it hosted the 2002 World Series, which the Angels won over the San Francisco Giants.[34]
Angel Stadium hosted several games during Round 2 of the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Famous individual baseball milestones attained in the stadium included Mickey Mantle's last game-winning home run, Nolan Ryan's striking out of nine consecutive Boston Red Sox players (and two of his seven no-hitters), Reggie Jackson's 500th career home run, Rod Carew's 3,000th career base hit, Don Sutton's 300th career win, Vladimir Guerrero's 400th career home run, George Brett's 3,000th career base hit, and Albert Pujols' 600th career home run.
On Saturday, August 9, 2014, the stadium hosted a 6-hour, 31-minute game between the Angels and the Boston Red Sox that extended for 19 innings, before Albert Pujols gave the Angels a 5-4 win.[35]
The stadium is currently designated to host softball and baseball events for the 2028 Summer Olympics along with Dodger Stadium.[citation needed]
Football
A "Battle of the Bell" game between Fountain Valley High School and Edison High School was hosted in the stadium sometime during the 1970s.[36]
Eric Dickerson broke the NFL single-season rushing record in game 15 of the 1984 season, finishing with 2,007 yards.[37] (He would go on accumulate 2,105 yards that season.)
In December 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles used Angel Stadium as their practice field, as part of the Eagles’ two game west coast road trip.[38]
Soccer
Anaheim Stadium hosted five group stage matches of the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup, including two involving the United States national team.[39]
Date | Winning Team | Result | Losing Team | Tournament | Spectators |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 10, 1996 | Canada | 3–1 | Honduras | 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup First Round | 27,125 |
El Salvador | 3–2 | Trinidad and Tobago | |||
January 13, 1996 | United States | 3–2 | Trinidad and Tobago | 12,425 | |
January 16, 1996 | Guatemala | 3–0 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 52,345 | |
United States | 2–0 | El Salvador |
Concerts
Angel Stadium has hosted concerts including bands such as
Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / Concert name | Attendance / Capacity | Revenue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 14, 1970 | The Who | — | Tommy Tour | — | — | [41] |
March 21, 1976 | — | The Who by Numbers Tour | — | — | ||
July 17, 1976 | Yes | Peter Frampton, Gary Wright, Gentle Giant | 1976 Solo Albums Tour | — | — | Hosted by Flo & Eddie |
August 7, 1976 | ZZ Top | Blue Öyster Cult Johnny & Edgar Winter |
Worldwide Texas Tour | 49,169 / 60,000 | $498,040 | |
August 20, 1976 | Kiss | Destroyer Tour | 42,000+ | — | ||
September 10, 1976 | Aerosmith | Jeff Beck | Rocks Tour | — | — | |
September 12, 1976 | ||||||
May 6, 1977 | Pink Floyd | — | In the Flesh Tour | — | — | |
May 7, 1977 | ||||||
June 19, 1977 | Alice Cooper | Nazareth The Tubes & Sha Na Na |
King of the Silver Screen Tour | — | — | |
August 27, 1977 | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | Street Survivors Tour | |||
July 23, 1978 | The Rolling Stones | — | Some Girls Tour | — | — | |
July 24, 1978 | The Outlaws | |||||
September 23, 1978 | Boston | Black Sabbath | Never Say Die! Tour | — | — | This concert was part of Summerfest. |
September 24, 1978 | ||||||
July 17, 1982 | Scorpions Loverboy Foreigner |
Iron Maiden | The Beast on the Road |
73,351 / 73,351 | $1,100,265 | [42] |
September 9, 1983 | David Bowie | The Go-Go's Madness |
Serious Moonlight Tour | — | — | |
July 18, 1987 | Madonna |
Level 42 Bhundu Boys Hue and Cry |
Who's That Girl World Tour | 62,986 / 62,986 | $1,417,185 | |
July 26, 1987 | The Grateful Dead Bob Dylan |
— | Alone and Together Tour | — | — | A portion of this show has been recorded for the album, View from the Vault, Volume Four[43] |
August 8, 1987 | David Bowie | Siouxsie and the Banshees | Glass Spider Tour | 50,000 | — | [44][45] |
August 9, 1987 | — | |||||
November 14, 1992 | U2 | Public Enemy |
Zoo TV Tour | 48,640 / 48,640 | $1,462,800 | |
April 17, 1993 | Paul McCartney | — | The New World Tour | 48,560 / 48,560 | $1,698,410 | |
June 13, 1998 | NSYNC | — | NSYNC in Concert | — | — | This concert was a part of Wango Tango |
November 2, 2002 | The Rolling Stones | Sheryl Crow | Licks Tour | — | — | |
May 14, 2005 | Kelly Clarkson | Graham Colton Band |
Breakaway World Tour |
— | — | This concert was a part of Wango Tango |
November 4, 2005 | The Rolling Stones | Toots and the Maytals | A Bigger Bang Tour |
48,480 / 48,480 | $6,792,416 | [46] |
June 17, 2011 | U2 | Lenny Kravitz | U2 360° Tour | 105,955 / 105,955 | $10,790,140 | |
June 18, 2011 | ||||||
July 14, 2012 | Kenny Chesney Tim McGraw |
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Jake Owen |
Brothers of the Sun Tour | 44,832 / 44,832 | $3,963,039 | |
July 27, 2013 | Kenny Chesney Eric Church |
Eli Young Band Kacey Musgraves |
No Shoes Nation Tour | 41,447 / 41,447 | $3,538,806 | |
September 9, 2017 | Chance the Rapper | — | Be Encouraged Tour | — | — | These concerts were part of the Day N Night Festival. |
SZA |
Ctrl the Tour |
Motion picture set
Several major motion pictures have been shot at Angel Stadium. The final sequence of
Other events
On November 16, 1979, Anaheim Stadium hosted
Anaheim Stadium has hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round from 1976 to 1979, 1981 to 1987, 1989 to 1996, and 1999 to the present.[51]
The stadium is also host to Monster Jam, which hosts several shows every year.
Angel Stadium has been the site of annual Christian
Regular season home attendance
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References
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- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ Angel Stadium – history, photos and more of the Los Angeles Angels ballpark
- ^ Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes
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- ^ a b "MLB.com". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
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- ^ "The Sporting News' Record Book archives". onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
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- ^ Spencer, Terry (January 18, 1994). "Earthquake: Diaster [sic] Before Dawn : Scoreboard Crashes Onto Seats in Anaheim Stadium : Collapse: The 17.5-ton Sony 'Jumbotron' also destroyed a section of roof as it broke loose and fell to the left-field upper deck". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Busser, Bob. "Anaheim Stadium part 2 – Anaheim, California". Ballparks, Arenas and Stadiums. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ Mouchard, Andre (April 8, 2016). "Angel Stadium at 50: Call it 'The Big Aged;' Does it have a future?". Orange County Register.
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- ^ Newcomb, Tim (September 12, 2014). "Ballpark Quirks: Anaheim's Angel Stadium combines Disney, baseball". Sports Illustrated.
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- ^ Shaikin, Bill (October 16, 2018). "Angels opt out of their Angel Stadium lease, but it doesn't mean they're leaving". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Shaikin, Bill (December 4, 2019). "Angels and Anaheim reach a deal for the team to stay in city through 2050". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
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- ^ Fenno, Nathan; Elmahrek, Adam; San Román, Gabriel (May 23, 2022). "Anaheim mayor resigns amid corruption probe into his role in Angel Stadium land sale". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
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- ^ Beale, Lauren (April 29, 2019). "Jackie Autry family horse ranch in Anza is back in the saddle again". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
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- California Governor Gavin Newsom.
- ^ Angel Stadium operated at 33% capacity From April to June 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.