Without much fanfare or notice, the Los Angeles Angels extended their lease at Angel Stadium by three years, which means the team will now be at the ballpark through 2032.
In an era defined by loud and fraught stadium battles, to see a major league team so quietly sign an extension for an outdated ballpark comes as at least a little bit of a surprise.
Angel Stadium is now the fourth oldest MLB ballpark, behind only Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium. But unlike all of those, Angel Stadium has not undergone a significant renovation in 30 years. Whereas those other stadiums are considered national landmarks and local treasures, Angel Stadium is … well … not quite that. And few people we know would mind it being torn down and replaced.
Nevertheless, recent attempts to sell the ballpark to the team fell through as the Mayor of Anaheim was accused of (and later pled guilty) to lying to federal investigators about his role in a deal to help the team purchase the stadium. Had that deal gone forward, it was expected that the ownership group would have begun the process of planning for a new stadium. (To read more about this, click here).
But instead, the team is now stuck at their current home for the foreseeable future, as they hold the option to extend the lease for two additional three-year extensions that could run through 2038. (But we don’t see how it’s possible that the team could be playing at this ballpark that long).
So what does that mean for you, the fan? It means that if you haven’t been to Angel Stadium, you likely have at least eight more years to get there (which is four home/away cycles for intraleague opponents).
For more information on planning a visit to Angel Stadium, check out our insider guide for all of the advice you could need to maximize your visit.
