Angels seem to be posturing for a proper Los Angeles stadium

The Los Angeles Angels opted out of their lease on Angel Stadium. Does this mean the team is finally moving?

In 2005, the Anaheim Angels rebranded themselves of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ironically, that mouthful of a name stuck until 2016 when the Angels dropped the “of Anaheim” and went with just “Los Angeles Angels”.

For the past 14 seasons, the Angels have had some form of branding with “Los Angeles” being the theme. The only thing that didn’t change was the ballpark.

The Angels have still played in Anaheim, which is roughly 30 miles from Downton Los Angeles, as the Angels. That is until now. L.A. has opted out of their lease with the City of Anaheim according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Angels have been in negotiations for years trying to land a stadium in Los Angeles, Carson, Irvine, and Tustin. Negotiations last ended with the city of Anaheim in 2014 and they’re expected to reopen now.

The lease required the Angels opt out no later than today or wait until 2028 for their next opportunity to opt out. Instead of waiting a decade, the team decided to opt out and see take their chances in negotiations.

Right now, Angel Stadium is the fourth oldest ballpark in the MLB. Only Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium have been opened longer than the Angel’s which opened in 1966.

It’s been an offseason of change for the L.A. Angels as their longtime skipper, Mike Scioscia, stepped down after their season came to a close after 19 seasons as Manager. Now, with no long-term plan in place, the Angels are looking for a new home.

If the team is going to be branded as a Los Angeles product they should move out of Anaheim and go all in on being in the L.A. market.

The main challenge is the Angels will have to pay for their new stadium out of pocket because a Southern California city is unlikely to use taxpayers money to pay for a stadium.