For Angels, Sunday is the last day worst weather In the history of the franchise. There’s a dull emptiness around the ballpark.
On the field, the Angels now own the longest streak of futility of any major league team: 10 years without a playoff appearance. Their roster is filled by men described by their manager “Not a big league baseball player.” Their minor league system is disappointing.
They have reluctantly acknowledged the dire need for reconstruction without fully committing to doing so. This team is not competitive by one player or by one year.
Outside the field, the 130 acres of land surrounding Angel Stadium is barren and lifeless. Fans still do the same things they did six decades ago: drive up, watch the game, hit home runs.
On the other side of Katella Avenue, Orange County’s other major league team is on the rise. The Ducks embarked on a rebuild and Hockey News says they have the most talented collection of young talent in the NHL. Off the ice, the Ducks are surrounding Honda Center with the same type of ballpark village the Angels once hoped to build around Angel Stadium.
“Where do you go when you want to have fun?” Ducks owner Henry Samueli said at a launch event on Wednesday. “That’s what we’re trying to create here.”
Angels’ Plan When the City of Anaheim Derailed terminated their stadium dealamong a federal corruption investigation In the mayor. However, even if the deal went ahead, nothing was to be built around the stadium for 15 years.
Off the ice, the Ducks are surrounding Honda Center with the same type of ballpark village the Angels once hoped to build around Angel Stadium.
(OC Vibe)
Samueli’s $4 billion development, said to be oc vibeAlready under construction. Bill Foltz, chief executive of OC Vibe, said inspirations for the project include The Battery, the village surrounding the Atlanta Braves ballpark, and Texas Live, the entertainment center adjacent to the Texas Rangers ballpark.
For the first time, fans will be able to arrive at Honda Center early, enjoy dinner in the restaurant or drinks at the bar, and walk a few steps to the game.
“We always thought we were a ‘two-stop’ place, meaning a lot of people would have dinner somewhere else and then come to a show or game,” Foltz said.
“This is truly creating, for the first time, a ‘stop once’ place to go.”
OC Vibe is scheduled to open in 2026. Foltz said he hopes Angels fans will make the short drive to Angel Stadium before or after the game to eat, drink, shop and take in the OC vibe. The Ducks would like to thank baseball fans for spending money that could be used to improve the fan experience – that is, for hockey fans.
It’s all unapologetically and ecstatically Orange County. The Ducks are now wearing orange uniforms, featuring the return of the beloved Angry Duck, and they’re staking out their territory “Orange Country.”
“We obviously love Orange County,” Samueli said, speaking for himself and his wife, Susan. “This is our permanent home. We will never move away.”
The 28 restaurants around Honda Center will include a branch of a restaurantA Newport Beach restaurant that opened in 1926. The revival will include four concerts golden bearA famous Huntington Beach club that closed in 1986 after hosting artists such as Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Buffett.
The OC vibe includes the revival of the Golden Bear, a Huntington Beach club that closed in 1986.
(OC Vibe)
Samuel’s company also got approval to operate from the city of Anaheim last week. groveTheater at the edge of the Angel Stadium parking lot. under dealThe city gets three-quarters of the operating profits.
Again, the Ducks are in good shape. angel? The development was intended to generate revenue to renovate their old stadium and anchor the team in Anaheim, which was never completed. The Angels Stadium lease expires in five years.
For now, the city is largely at the mercy of the Angels. City has backed out of two deals with the Angels within a decade; The team is under no obligation to attempt to negotiate with anyone else.
The team has an option to extend the lease, under which the Angels will not pay any rent until 2038. The city could earn cash if the Angels eventually build something on the stadium parking lot, but the lease allows the team to control the development of the lot.
Anaheim Mayor Ashley Aitken said, “The door to negotiations is always open to a compromise that makes sense for Anaheim taxpayers.” “I hope that happens one day.”
If Angels owner Arte Moreno decided to sell his team, Samueli would be the most logical buyer. He is embedded in the community, is an experienced sports owner whose team won a championshipAnd Angel Stadium is uniquely positioned to complement its OC Vibe development with something different within the parking lot. A quarter century ago, Samueli and several colleagues considered putting indoor surf and snowboard venue At the Angels parking lot.
If Moreno soon puts the Angels up for sale — and several people with knowledge of the situation said there is no indication he will do so — would Samueli consider buying the team?
“Right now, I’m totally obsessed with the Ducks,” Samueli said. “It’s not something we’re thinking about.”
In August 2022, Moreno hired a sports franchise broker and said he would Explore a Sale Of angels. Six months later, Moreno reversed course and took the team out of the market,
Samueli said he had not bid on the team then and did not envision bidding on the team if Moreno decided to sell now.
“Running a sports team is a big job,” Samueli said. “If you want to get involved, it’s hard to do more than one. I am deeply involved.
“I wouldn’t even have time to go to games, let alone manage a team.”
So the game goes in Orange County. For ducks, the new season has arrived. For the Angels, once again, there is no postseason.
