Stadium Preview: Part IV
What originally fueled the B4B idea was to visit each major league baseball stadium across the country. Now that our dreams will become reality beginning in 2012, we will want to share our greatest experiences with followers of our journey. We’ll report on fan devotion, best concessions, most memorable park moment in history and video blogging each 7th inning stretch the B4B crew will sing along to all season. We really want our readers to experience each stadium along with us.
Over the next few months, the B4B blog will be providing previews of each major league stadium. We will give some historical background, along with plenty of pictures. We would love to get fans perspective on each park as well, so please provide feedback on your favorite stadium on facebook and twitter. Our posts will take us from the oldest stadium all the way to the brand new Marlins Stadium. We hope you enjoy.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim is the official name of the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim’s stadium. The stadium opened for the Angels 1966 season on what was originally land used for agricultural purposes in southeast suburban Anaheim. Besides the Angels, soccer, professional football, and college football bowl games have been played at Angel Stadium.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB) (1966–present)
Southern California Sun (WFL) (1974–1975)
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) (1980–1994)
Freedom Bowl (NCAA) (1984–1994)
California Surf (NASL) (1978–1981)
In the late 1970’s, the Los Angeles Rams football team made a deal with the Angels to move from the LA Coliseum to play their home games at a renovated Angel Stadium. Before the Rams began play in the stadium in 1980, some 23,000 seats were added, enclosing the entire playing field. Seating capacity increased from 43,250 to 69,008 for football games. Views of the local mountains through the previously open outfield were lost, and the iconic Big A scoreboard in center field had to be moved to its current location in the parking lot.
The Rams played in the stadium until they moved to St. Louis prior to the 1994 season. From my perspective the Angels didn’t like the inconvenience of sharing the stadium with a football team because they immediately began renovations to the stadium that included demolishing the outfield seats and installing a very Disney-ish waterfall with artificial rocks and trees behind the centerfield wall. A very cool part of these renovations also included a revamped main entrance behind home plate complete with a gigantic Angels New Era baseball cap. The seating capacity is now 45,389.
I don’t know much that can beat catching a baseball game in Southern California. We are looking forward to this stop on our trek to every major league stadium next season. Be sure to keep following our blog posts, follow us on twitter, and “Like” us on facebook to stay updated with all of the B4B happenings.