Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim?

Question

Why are the Angels known as the L.A. Angels Of Anaheim? And when the hell did this happen?

Answer 1

The disinformation around here is appalling...

The team entered the American League as part of the 1961 expansion as the Los Angeles Angels and played in Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. They moved to Dodger Stadium, which the Angels called "Chavez Ravine" when they played there, in 1962.

The team tired of the abuse from Dodger management and wanted its own stadium. They struck a deal with the City of Anaheim and moved there as the California Angels in 1966. They used the state name because they felt "Anaheim" wouldn't lend much name recognition and that "California" would generate a larger fan base. They began playing as the Anaheim Angels in 1997 after renegotiating the stadium contract with the City of Anaheim. They began playing as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005 because new owner Arte Moreno wanted to get wider market recognition and attempt to draw the large population of hispanic baseball fans that more closely associated with "Los Angeles" than the traditionally non-hispanic "Anaheim". He had to include "Anaheim" in the team name because of the contract with the city.

Contrary to the claim made above, the Angels are more "Los Angeles" than the Dodgers. The Dodgers trace their origins to Brooklyn, remember? The Angels are the only major league baseball team to originate in Los Angeles.

Answer 2

As an expansion team in '61 they were the L.A. Angels. They became the California Angels because, 1.) they play in Anaheim, which is no where near L.A. and, 2.) there were (and are) 4 other teams in California, so naming the team after the state just made sense. The change to Anaheim Angels is in part due to the attempt to get Anaheim more well known as a city, since, among other things, Disney Land is there. It is sort of the way people from Aurora, Colorado hate to be called 'from Denver'. It's really rather meaningless, either way. The L.A. Dodgers from Anaheim is a mouthful and sounds like hell. California is a good choice. Naming namings by the states instead of the town has become rather the vogue, hence Florida and Colorado, as well as Texas.

Answer 3

It's the plan by Arte Moreno (owner of the Angels) to draw in more money for the club. Once he took over a few years back, he figured they could further increase revenue by appealing to the baseball fans in Los Angeles and not just Anaheim, even though they had won a World Series as Anaheim in 2002. Since the Dodgers weren't exactly at the top of the heap, it was an idea with merit. Of course, once he tried to change the name of the team to the Los Angeles Angels, the Anaheim mayor got angry (rightfully so), and threatened to sue them over the name change. Moreno then decided for their new ridiculous name, but it still didn't make anyone that happy, and has mostly been mocked.

Answer 4

First they were the California Angels. Then the Anaheim Angels. Now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This is by far the most ridiculous name in the world--I have a feeling the city of Los Angeles has some money in the team and insisted on being in on the name. As far as names go, it's about as good as the American Dodgeball Association of America.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say it pleased both Parties. The city of Anaheim when to court over the name change. On their side they had representatives from the LA Dodgers and the former owners the Angels.

The contract and naming agreement between the City of Anaheim and the Angels was to make sure "Anaheim" was included in the team's name. Since the new owners wanted to expand the teams interests and make them sound more regional in hopes to acquire a more lucrative TV contract so the new owners changed the teams name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The judge ruled in favor of the new team owner. Since "Anaheim" still appears in the team's name, no contract agreement has been broken. City of Anaheim is still bitter about the whole ordeal.

Answer 6

2 years ago Arte Moreno changed the name however true Angel fans like me still call them Anaheim Angels!

The strory is that Mr Moreno was tired of getting very little revenue stream because Anaheim is not a very big market. He said "It;'s sad that the Angels are making the same TV and Radio revenue that the Devil rays are making"

This is why he changed the name to LA of Anaheim because that way he can charge the same rates that the Dodgers charge....

Anaheim is still in the name because the city of ANaheim contract read that Anaheim had to be in the name...

So this loopole allowed the stupid name change!

Answer 7

When the team was sold several years ago, the new owner decided to change the name to the Los Angeles Angels (a name that had been used in the early 1960s because they became the California Angels) to better tap into that market. However, their stadium lease required them to have "Anaheim" in the team name. "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" is thus a sneaky way to have their cake and eat it too.

Answer 8

Countdown and Swingman both give excellent answers. Only thing I can add is that when the team came into the AL in the '61 expansion they played in Dodger Stadium and were orignally known as the Los Angeles Angels until Anaheim Stadium was built.

Answer 9

they used to be the California Angels until the 1990s, when the team changed names to the LA Angels

the team then moved to a new stadium in Anaheim and renamed themselves the Anaheim Angels

people didnt like the name change, and it wasnt selling as much as the execs hoped. also, people liked LA better as the name, but Anaheim wouldnt give up the rights

therefore the name LA Angels of Anaheim was born to please both parties

Answer 10

Both people before me are incorrect...... They are named that way because owner Arte Moreno wanted to attempt to capitalize on the Los Angeles market in order to make more money....

Everything is about money....

But dont let them fool you, there is nothing about the Angels that is Los Angeles....