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Saturday, April 28, 2012

LA Times: With Angel Stadium aging, team could drop the ‘of Anaheim’

As the Dodgers’ and Angels’ owners consider the options for their ballparks, the possibility arises for the Angels to move to downtown L.A. and for the Freeway Series to become the Surface Streets Series.

Why on earth would they want to do this? They have successfully built a very strong fanbase where they are, and if there is one metro area where it makes sense to have two geographically separate teams, it’s the LA metro. Unless… what they are really trying to do is squeeze freebies out of the local government(s). Naaah!

Andere Richtingen Posted: April 28, 2012 at 11:22 PM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: angels, dodgers

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1. Jeff Frances the Mute Posted: April 29, 2012 at 10:35 AM (#4118930)

There are no freebies to be had from the local or state government. That is why there is no NFL team here.

Also, while the Dodgers and Angels share the territory I don't believe that the Angels could move to a downtown stadium without the approval of the Dodgers. Downtown is only about 3 miles from Dodgers Stadium and I think there is a 5 mile "halo" that MLB requires between stadiums.

2. Joe Kehoskie Posted: April 29, 2012 at 10:09 PM (#4119448)

Right. Unless the ML Constitution was quietly changed, the Dodgers (like all other teams in a shared territory) control a five-air-mile radius around Dodger Stadium, so the Farmers Field site would seemingly be DOA.

3. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: April 29, 2012 at 10:44 PM (#4119471)

Regarding freebies and the NFL, a friend close to a top LA official told me five or five years ago that the state would pony up money to be used to build a new football stadium provided that the team relocating came from out of state.

4. Jeff Frances the Mute Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:03 AM (#4119507)

Regarding freebies and the NFL, a friend close to a top LA official told me five or five years ago that the state would pony up money to be used to build a new football stadium provided that the team relocating came from out of state.

That might have been possible five years ago, but it is a complete impossible today. The state is a financial trainwreck and the NFL would be lucky to get a state tax break in today's economic climate.

5. Jeff Frances the Mute Posted: April 30, 2012 at 01:27 AM (#4119544)

Right. Unless the ML Constitution was quietly changed, the Dodgers (like all other teams in a shared territory) control a five-air-mile radius around Dodger Stadium, so the Farmers Field site would seemingly be DOA.

I went back and looked in the MLB Constitution on bizofbaseball.com and I didn't see the 5 mile radius spelled out. So perhaps it has been changed on the sly? Or perhaps I missed it?

6. Squash Posted: April 30, 2012 at 02:42 AM (#4119558)

Why would the state be involved? Aren't stadiums generally a city/county thing?

7. Chicago Joe

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 03:03 AM (#4119560)

Why would the state be involved? Aren't stadiums generally a city/county thing?

'

State usually needs to approve a special taxing district.

8. Athletic Supporter gangnam style Posted: April 30, 2012 at 03:04 AM (#4119561)

I don't buy the premise anyway. Angel Stadium is a great place to watch a game.

9. Flynn Posted: April 30, 2012 at 04:44 AM (#4119563)

Regarding freebies and the NFL, a friend close to a top LA official told me five or five years ago that the state would pony up money to be used to build a new football stadium provided that the team relocating came from out of state.

I am pretty sure that's illegal under California law.

10. YR Misses Reggie Bars Posted: April 30, 2012 at 10:01 AM (#4119610)

Bring back the California Angels! Also Fred Lynn and Doug DeCinces.

11. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM (#4119633)

That might have been possible five years ago, but it is a complete impossible today. The state is a financial trainwreck and the NFL would be lucky to get a state tax break in today's economic climate.

But stadiums make money!

12. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 10:33 AM (#4119636)

I am pretty sure that's illegal under California law.

In what way would such an understanding illegal? In this scenario, Schwarzenegger did not want to use state tax dollars to rob one California community (i.e., San Diego) to benefit another (i.e., Los Angeles).

13. Joe Kehoskie Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4119745)

I went back and looked in the MLB Constitution on bizofbaseball.com and I didn't see the 5 mile radius spelled out. So perhaps it has been changed on the sly? Or perhaps I missed it?

I thought it was the ML Constitution but the "five air miles" stipulation is in ML Rule 1(a)(3):

ML Rules (2008 version)

EDIT: The above reads like it's only applicable to a team that moves into another team's territory, but I believe it applies to shared territories as well. It's hard to believe ML teams get better territorial protection from Minor League teams (territory plus 15 miles) than they'd get from a second ML team, but I guess anything is possible.

14. Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4119799)

Bring back the California Angels! Also Fred Lynn and Doug DeCinces.

That would at least improve the offense.

15. zonk Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4119805)

Brian Downing would listen if Arte Moreno called...

16. DL from MN Posted: April 30, 2012 at 01:34 PM (#4119860)

hard to believe ML teams get better territorial protection from Minor League teams (territory plus 15 miles) than they'd get from a second ML team, but I guess anything is possible.

Citi Field is <8 miles from Yankee Stadium

17. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: April 30, 2012 at 02:02 PM (#4119893)

Why would the state be involved? Aren't stadiums generally a city/county thing?

I don't think so. The Maryland Stadium Authority built Camden Yards with (in part) state lottery money. I remember the Illinois and Washington legislatures having to vote on the White Sox's/Mariners' s stadiums, respectively. The state of Pennsylvania built the Phillies/Pirates their parks. Etc.

18. Zach Posted: April 30, 2012 at 03:36 PM (#4120004)

California's busy spending all of its Stupid Development Money on the Fresno High Speed Railers. They haven't had a pennant in a hundred years, but that just means they're due.

19. Jeff Frances the Mute Posted: April 30, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4120064)

I don't buy the premise anyway. Angel Stadium is a great place to watch a game.

There is nothing wrong with Angel Stadium. Moreno has always been jealous of the Dodgers greater revenue stream and team value. Things like changing the team name to Los Angeles Angels and potentially moving the team 40 miles north are done to try and bring the Angels and Dodgers to revenue parity (or at least narrow the gap).

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

LA Times: With Angel Stadium aging, team could drop the ‘of Anaheim’

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