Restoring the Anaheim Angels: Efforts to Bring the City's Name Back to the Team
Two decades after the Angels changed their name to the Los Angeles Angels, officials from Anaheim are working to bring the city's name back to the team. Assemblyman Avelino Valencia introduced a bill that could require any sale or lease of Angel Stadium to be contingent on the team reverting to the Anaheim Angels name. Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is also exploring whether the team violated its current lease by dropping the Anaheim name from legal documents.
Valencia's bill, known as the "Home Run for Anaheim Act," aims to ensure that if the team wants to develop the stadium's parking lots, they must carry the city's name. The Angels' current lease runs through 2032, with options to extend it through 2038. A previous deal for the team to stay in Anaheim through 2050 fell through due to objections from the state.
The bill, endorsed by city leaders, would require the team to be referred to as the Anaheim Angels in all materials if the city can obtain an exemption from the Surplus Land Act. Valencia believes the community should have a say in how the land is used, even if it means less housing on the site. The bill would only apply to Anaheim and would not take effect if the city reaches an agreement with the team.
In 2005, the team changed its name to the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" after the city declined the owner's request to change it to the Los Angeles Angels. The city sued but lost, with a jury ruling that the team had not violated the lease requirement. The team later dropped the "of Anaheim" from its name and now goes by the Los Angeles Angels.
Mayor Aitken has asked the city attorney to investigate how the team uses the Anaheim name in official filings and what requirements they have to do so. The matter is being discussed as a potential litigation item in closed session. The efforts to bring the Anaheim name back to the team are supported by city leaders and former mayors, who believe it is owed to the residents who have supported the team for 60 years.
In conclusion, the push to restore the Anaheim Angels name reflects the city's desire to have the team represent its hometown in its official designation. The proposed legislation and legal actions aim to ensure that the team's affiliation with Anaheim is reflected in its name and branding, honoring the city's longstanding support for the Angels.