Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Anaheim, CA | Angel Stadium | Home of the Los Angeles Angels

Members of the security team gave me a fist bump as I walked past. The person who scanned my ticket said he was supporting us A’s fans and that he wanted a SELL shirt. At that moment, I wished I had an extra one to give him.

I have not been inside the stadium yet, and I already felt welcomed at Angel Stadium.

The friendliness continued when a curious Angels fan asked me if SELL was the name of a player. And I responded with, “Oh, great question! I’m so glad you asked!” I then had a conversation with her about what my SELL shirt was about.

The person at the information booth stamped my ballpark bucket list book, even though it wasn’t the “official” passport book. I was grateful for that gesture. She also said fans have access to both 100s and 200s sections but not the upper 300s and above, unless you’re seated there.

When I bought my usual hot dog, pretzel, cheese and Coke, the employee had that genuine caring “grandma” friendliness about her, teaching me how to place and hold my items so that they don’t fall out. It was heartwarming.

But the fun briefly stopped when I went to my assigned seat and the hot California sun beat down on me. I am already dark, and I knew I was going to get 10 shades darker. Why did I get this seat, I thought to myself. I should have been smart like the Angels fan who all sat in the shaded 200 sections.

After four innings, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood by one of the ushers. We had a brief conversation that went something like this:

Me: So, are there any particular spots in the stadium I should check out?

Usher: Not really. This stadium is kinda boring.

Me: Any food I should try out?

Usher: We have the typical ballpark food, but maybe try the rotisserie chicken.  (Unfortunately, I did not. The Filipino in me would want to eat the chicken with rice! Haha. And there is no rice in the stadium.)

Me: Tell me about the rally monkey.

Usher: It doesn’t work. (And we both start laughing.)

After the A’s started making gaffes (like Kyle MCcann missing home plate), I decided to walk around the stadium to check things out.

And I kid not when I say that three different Angels fans stopped me along the way to talk. One wore an A’s t-shirt, and another wore a Rollie Fingers jersey. They told me that they were really Angels fans but wanted to just be different from their group. Hmmm, I thought. Maybe they were just closet A’s fans.

Nevertheless, they all shared with me their fun and positive experiences at the Coliseum and that they were some of the most fun times they have had. They praised the faithful A’s fans they met, especially the older ones who have been coming for decades. They talked about the flags and drumming in the right field section, the flat bedsheets used for banners. One of them even called his wife to tell her that he was talking to me. She then shared with me about her experience. I truly felt the love and support.

Overall, the fans were wonderful. They started a wave in the 8th inning, and it managed to go around two to three times. The Angels also have a fan engagement cheer team, which I thought was great.

There were a lot of kids in attendance who were part of maybe the Boys and Girls Club? Anyway, I thought it was cute when one group of kids would chant, “Let’s go, Angels!” and another would chant, “Let’s go, Oakland!”

This was my first ballpark outside the Oakland Coliseum. (Technically, I have been to Oracle, but I went there to do post-game interviews for a local TV station, not as a fan.) Although I wasn’t too impressed with the actual stadium, I loved the people. (Well, except for one of the ushers who I didn’t feel the best vibe from.) I wasn’t a big fan of the “Radiator Springs” rock formation in the center outfield. It just looked out of place, and I don’t doubt it was Disney inspired.

The one feature I did like was the LED video board. The scoreboard wasn’t easy on the eye as far as layout is concerned, but being able to stand in front of the screen was pretty cool.

The two huge hats outside the stadium make it really distinctive and practical as it can also provide shade.

My favorite part of the stadium is actually The Big A, the 230-foot(70m) metal sign standing in the Angels parking lot. I read it’s been there since 1966. I love old vintage things.

There was a huge Christmas tree in front of the stadium to commemorate their Christmas in June theme at Angels Stadium. The A’s lost the game, their 9th road game loss in a row, and this is their last season in Oakland. Perhaps Christmas can come early for my Oakland A’s, too? A Christmas miracle?

Next stop: Phoenix, Arizon

Read all the Chasing A’s here…