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The words “Anaheim Angels” now are enshrined in California law.
Whether the baseball team that calls Angel Stadium home reverts to its hometown name remains to be seen. On Thursday, however, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the “Home Run for Anaheim Act,” which elected officials in Orange County consider a significant step in that direction.
The new law, introduced by Assemblyman Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim), cleared the state legislature without a single vote against it.
The law does not mandate the Angels — playing under a Los Angeles name in Anaheim’s city-owned stadium — revert to the Anaheim Angels name.
Steven Kwan hit a tying double in the ninth inning, Travis Bazzana had a sacrifice fly and the Guardians beat the Angels.
For now, in fact, the law does absolutely nothing. On Friday, the Los Angeles Angels play at Angel Stadium.
Instead, the law provides the city with an incentive to dangle before the team. If the Angels — whether under owner Arte Moreno or a future owner — wish to develop the 150-acre Angel Stadium property, state law would prioritize affordable housing within the site.
In an era when team owners covet the profits from development around stadiums and arenas — including places for fans to eat, drink and shop 365 days a year, not just on game days — Anaheim could seek an exemption from the affordable housing law. That wouldn’t rule out housing on the site, but it would give a team more flexibility to build whatever project might be considered most profitable.
If the city obtains the exemption, the new law says, “then any materials, including, but not limited to, a lease, deed of sale, and promotional or marketing materials, shall refer to that team as the Anaheim Angels.”
“The Anaheim Angels are the only team to ever win a World Series in this city,” Anaheim mayor Ashleigh Aitken said. “I want to keep the Angels here and work with their owner to win another one.”
Moreno has twice reached deals with the city to develop the land, only to see the city walk away both times. In the last deal, he rejected the city’s request to rename the team the Anaheim Angels.
“We are proud to call Angel Stadium of Anaheim our home,” Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said, “and any other comment about the future would be premature.”
Moreno, 80, has shown no public interest in a third negotiation with the city. The Angels’ stadium lease extends through 2032, and the team has options to extend it through 2038.
