Angel Stadium has endured almost as many name changes as its newly-christened tenant, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The stadium was known as Anaheim Stadium when it opened in 1966, changed to Edison Field in 1999, and was renamed Angel Stadium for the 2004 season.
Getting Angels tickets hasn’t been easy lately. The Angels have drawn at least two million fans for the last seven seasons, and broke the three million-fan mark in 2003 and 2004. Credit for the ballooning attendance goes to a massive two-year renovation that cost the Los Angeles Angels ownership group over $100 million. Walt Disney Imagineering, HOK Sports Facilities Group, A.M. Stern Architects, and Turner Construction teamed up to turn an aging ballpark into a fan-friendly environment perfectly suited for one of the American League’s best young teams. The trademark “big A” scoreboard in centerfield used to be the signature feature of Anaheim Stadium, but now Angel Stadium is known for good sight lines, state-of-the-art seating for Angels fans, and a brand new $7 million scoreboard system in the outfield that’s one of the best of its kind.
In typical Disney fashion (the previous owners before the team was sold to Art Moreno), Angels baseball is as much about entertainment as it is about baseball. The outfield features erupting geysers, a stream, live trees, and artificial rocks.
The most important season in Angels history came in 2002, as Anaheim ended decades of frustration (and made baseball a hot ticket in Anaheim by selling thousands of World Series tickets in mere minutes) by defeating the San Francisco Giants in the World Series behind the notorious Rally Monkey, thousands of ThunderStix, and thousands of red-clad Angels fans.
The dimensions are fairly conventional, but if you pick up Angels tickets in the outfield keep an eye out for the three-foot high walls in the right and left field corners. Those short fences can occasionally turn pop outs into home runs-just like Scott Spiezio’s famous Game 6 World Series roundtripper.
The premium seating level for Angels tickets is the Diamond Club area, located directly behind home plate. All Angels Diamond Club ticket holders have access to the Diamond Club Restaurant. Want a more unique view? Check out sections 258 and 259 in the outfield, where you’ll be sitting directly behind both bullpens, easily close enough to hear the pop of the catcher’s mitt as the Angels knock out another opposing pitcher.
Capacity: 45,050
Year Built: 1966 (renovated in 1996)
2004 attendance: 41,675 per game average; 3,375,677 total
Dimensions: 330 to left, 387 to left-center, 400 to center, 370 to right-center, 330 to right
Hotels Nearby: Marriott Towneplace Suites, Hilton Suites, Holiday Inn, Doubletree
Thrill of victory: Oct. 27, 2002: The Angels earn their first World Series championship with a 4-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. In Game 6, also at Anaheim Stadium/Edison Field, the Angels had rallied from five runs down with eight outs to play to capture a 6-5 victory and force the decisive seventh game.
Agony of defeat: Oct. 12, 1986: Needing just one more win to clinch a trip to the World Series, the Angels lose Game 5 of the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox 7-6. The clinching blow was a homer by Boston’s Dave Henderson off Angels closer Donnie Moore.
Angels ticket tips: Scoring an Angels ticket when the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for interleague play is always a challenge. The hottest American League Angels ticket might be for the Boston Red Sox. The two teams met in the 2004 playoffs and continue to be among the best franchises in baseball.
