SAN DIEGO — Alicia Mink wished to see her Angels play Monday. She by no means had been to Petco Park.
“Super nice,” she mentioned. “Love the stadium.”
Petco Park is one of the best ballpark in Southern California, by far — built-in right into a vibrant neighborhood; spacious and trendy; filled with delectable foods and drinks choices; a neighborhood gathering spot reasonably than a venue that sits largely idle each winter and each different week in the course of the summer time.
Angel Stadium is none of these issues. The town of Anaheim want 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 the town’s strategic plan. Included among the many 21 aims in the course of the coming 12 months: “Address the future of Angel Stadium and the surrounding property.”
The Angels’ stadium lease permits Angels proprietor Arte Moreno to regulate growth on many of the property by 2038, though the town retains the precise to construct on roughly a 3rd of the parking zone. Moreno has not publicly dedicated to barter with the 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 come back, producing tax income from a ballpark village atop the parking zone, and including sorely wanted housing inside any growth.
What concerning 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 residence run that Padres followers felt compelled to drown them out.
If Angel Stadium had been renovated, the Angels followers I polled virtually unanimously urged two prime priorities to borrow from Petco Park. The primary: the house and spirit of Gallagher Sq., the park behind middle subject.
When the Padres aren’t enjoying, 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 enjoying, 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 very large display screen.
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 Photographs)
“I like the vibe of it,” Cathi Phillips mentioned.
The second prime precedence: the top-tier meals and drinks, notably from outstanding 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 mentioned.
Additionally notable: Petco Park opens to the neighborhood, with downtown views. A ballpark village in Anaheim might present comparable 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, the town of Anaheim is finishing a property evaluation to find out what number of lots of of hundreds of thousands is perhaps wanted to maintain the stadium protected and sound for the approaching many years.
The facilities is perhaps secondary, besides that the income from them might assist pay for the renovations. And, with two stadium offers collapsing within the final decade, there might not be a 3rd.
If not, the response can be blended 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 useful. On the very least, Jaime Diaz mentioned, the entry is nice.
“Can’t go wrong with the parking,” he mentioned. “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 mentioned. “It feels like home.”
