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 Angel
Stadium
Anaheim, CA
Although it is over
four decades old and its look has changed several times, Angel
Stadium is the home to one of the best teams in the American League.
In 1960 Gene Autry founded the Los Angeles Angels. The team played
their first year at
Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field in 1961. After the Los Angeles
Dodgers constructed Dodger Stadium in 1962, the Angels moved from LA
Wrigley Field to the Dodgers home until 1965. Since the Angels
founding in 1960 the team had studied numerous sites in Southern
California to possibly construct a ballpark on. The team decided
that their future was in Anaheim. This 140 acre site was chosen
because of its proximity to major freeways and Disneyland. On August
31, 1964 construction began on Anaheim Stadium. With the move to
Anaheim, the team changed its name from the Los Angeles Angels to
the California Angels. After a work stoppage and strikes, Anaheim
Stadium was completed on time. The Angels played their first game at
Anaheim Stadium on April 19, 1966 against the Chicago White Sox. The
three tier stadium had 43,204 seats that stretched from the right
field foul pole to homeplate and around to the left field foul pole.
 Escalators, elevators and ramps helped fans get to the multi-colored
seats. Anaheim Stadium instantly became known as the "Big A",
because of the A-frame scoreboard that was behind the outfield wall.
The $1 million, 230feet tall scoreboard was the largest built at the
time. It was topped with a giant halo. Original
dimensions at
Anaheim Stadium
were 333 ft. (left), 404 ft. (center), and 333 ft. (right). The
first of two renovations to Anaheim Stadium came in 1979 when the
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) moved to Anaheim. The stadium was enclosed,
increasing the capacity to 65,158. A new scoreboard was installed on
the facade of the outfield roof because the "Big A" was moved to the
parking lot. New executive and media boxes, and a new sound system
was added.
By
the 1990s the Angels wanted a baseball only stadium, no longer
wanting to share Anaheim Stadium with the Rams. The team was open to
renovating or reconfiguring the stadium. Without a renovated Anaheim
Stadium, the Angels discussed the possibly of moving to another
location in Southern California such as Long Beach. In January 1994
the stadium suffered $4 million in damage from the Northridge
earthquake. The 17.5 ton Sony Jumbotron broke from the top of the
stadium roof in left field crashing into the upper deck and
destroying 800 seats. After the 1994 NFL season, the Rams moved to
St. Louis, leaving Anaheim Stadium with one tenant, thus allowing
the Angels to have the stadium renovated for baseball. The Disney
Corporation bought the Angels in 1996, agreeing to pay for 70% of
the $100 million renovation project.
In 1996 renovations began
with the removal of all the outfield seats with renovations
continuing throughout the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Parts of the
stadium remained closed during the 1997 season decreasing the
capacity to around 33,000 as seats behind homeplate and the entire
club level being closed.
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Today replacing the
20,000 seats in the outfield are bleacher seats, a video display
board, an out of town scoreboard below the right field seats and new
bullpens. In left centerfield is the "California spectacular" where
geysers erupt and a stream cascades down a mountainside covered with
real trees and artificial rocks. All of the multicolored seats were replaced by green seats. The exterior of the stadium was renovated
as the concrete structure and ramps were painted green and a plaza
was constructed outside the stadium with two giant Angel hats.
Anaheim Stadium was renamed Edison International Field in 1997 after
a deal was completed with Edison International Power for the naming
rights. With a new capacity of approximately 45,113, the renovated
stadium was completed by April 1, 1998. The ballpark has many
amenities including
the Pepsi Perfect Game Pavilion, dugout level seating, and three
club restaurants: The Knot
Hole
Club (sports bar located on the club level down the right filed
line), The Diamond Club (an upscale restaurant with outdoor
seating), and the Homeplate Club (overlooks the main entrance of the
ballpark). After the 2003 season Edison International and the Angels
ended the naming rights agreement. The stadium is now known as Angel
Stadium of Anaheim. Today, Angel Stadium has the look and feel of
all of the other retro ballparks built within the past 15 years. The
stadium has all the amenities and entertainment options that any fan
would want. A visit to Angel Stadium is a must for any fan.
Buy Los Angeles Angels
Tickets!
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