ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — In a significant move, the Los Angeles Angels have finalized a deal to extend their lease at Angel Stadium up to the year 2032. This announcement came as the result of discussions between the team and the city of Anaheim, which holds ownership of the stadium. The decision to prolong the Angels’ presence at the venue they have proudly called home since 1966 was officially disclosed on Wednesday.
While the team’s existing lease was set to expire in 2029, it included provisions for three additional three-year extensions that could potentially keep the Angels playing at Angel Stadium all the way through 2038 if all options are exercised. Expressing enthusiasm for this agreement, Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey stated, “We are thrilled to confirm the extension of our lease, thus securing the Big A as the cherished home of Angels Baseball well into the upcoming decade. As we gear up for our upcoming 60th season in Anaheim, we are eager to convey to our loyal fans and valuable community partners our enduring commitment to remain an integral part of this city and its surrounding region.”
Angel Stadium currently stands as the fourth-oldest stadium still in operation within Major League Baseball. Following in the footsteps of venerable ballparks like Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium, the Angels’ historic Orange County venue has undergone numerous revitalizations over the years since its initial opening to the public.
Under the terms of the lease extension, the Angels and the city will continue to share revenue generated from ticket sales, parking, and various events hosted at the stadium, which was originally known as Anaheim Stadium during its first 32 years of existence. Notably, Angels owner Arte Moreno has long expressed his interest in purchasing Angel Stadium along with the adjacent land, with plans to potentially construct a new state-of-the-art stadium and develop the surrounding parking areas. Although the city had previously approved a $320 million sale to Moreno in 2020, the deal unexpectedly fell through in 2022 due to a corruption probe involving Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, who subsequently resigned from office.
In close proximity to Angel Stadium, Henry Samueli, the owner of the Anaheim Ducks NHL team, is actively overseeing the development of OCVibe, a vast 100-acre entertainment district featuring extensive commercial and residential projects. Estimated to be a $4 billion undertaking, this ambitious venture will soon envelop the Ducks’ home arena, the Honda Center, which is also under municipal ownership.
Despite the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the long-term plans for the Angels’ home base, the recent lease extension serves as a practical acknowledgment of the unlikelihood of Moreno initiating the construction of a new stadium within the next four years. In a clarifying statement, the city highlighted that the extension was not the outcome of any ongoing detailed negotiations between the team and the municipality, and there are currently no active talks regarding a long-term lease or
