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Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno has announced that the team will continue playing at Angel Stadium of Anaheim through the 2028 Major League Baseball season. Moreno and the Los Angeles Angels organization were previously making efforts to either have a new ballpark built in Orange County, renovate Anaheim Stadium and play there long term or play out the lease until expiration in 2028. The team's lease with Angel Stadium includes an escape clause that can be exercised following the 2019 MLB season which is why this discussion of a new ballpark has come up.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim is the fourth oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium. Major League Baseball fans are enamored by those historic older ballparks. Professional sports have unfortunately seen a trend in which teams are abandoning their home venues for newer digs in as short as 20 years. The Atlanta Braves already have a brand new ballpark after debuting at Turner Field in 1997. The Texas Rangers are also pursuing a brand new ballpark to replace Globe Life Park in Arlington. The only ball clubs in clear need of new ballparks are the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays.
New ballparks give team owners an opportunity to capitalize on naming rights agreements, new sponsorships and revenue from club, group and luxury seating. However, these newer venues are often built on the backs of the hardworking taxpayers. At what point will taxpayers begin to push back? The city of Tustin, California rejected the proposal to build a ballpark for the Angels earlier this year. Unfortunately, when taxpayers and city officials refuse to fund stadiums, the team owner threatens to move the team to a city that will. The Angels organization recently installed LED lights inside the stadium which suggested that the team would continue playing at Angel Stadium of Anaheim for at least the near future.
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