Anaheim’s Angel Stadium Lease Under Scrutiny Amid Audit Findings

Anaheim, California – A new state audit has unveiled critical concerns regarding the maintenance and oversight of Angel Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The report, which auditors made public recently, indicates that the city lacks knowledge about the stadium’s condition, potentially requiring hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and maintenance.

The audit revealed that the lease agreement between the city and the Angels hampers municipal staff from inspecting the stadium. As pointed out by California Auditor Grant Parks, the terms of the lease “keep the city from knowing the physical condition of Angel Stadium.” Furthermore, the audit found that the contract restricts Anaheim’s revenue from the stadium significantly.

Community members and city leaders are concerned about the implications of the audit’s findings. According to the report, the Angels have claimed that taxpayers owe them over $36 million for expenses related to a facility they do not own. “Anaheim should negotiate with Angels ownership or seek to obtain a court order allowing it to perform physical inspections of the stadium on an annual or bi-annual basis,” the auditors recommended.

In response to the audit, City Manager Jim Vanderpool acknowledged the city’s agreement to the recommendations, including clarifying language about the city’s right to conduct inspections and obtaining maintenance reports from the Angels. Vanderpool stated, “The City of Anaheim has no objection to and welcomes the recommendations put forward by the State Auditor.”

The audit arises from a request made last fall to assess whether the Angels have upheld their obligations regarding revenue sharing and stadium maintenance. Meanwhile, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and city council members did not provide comments regarding the audit on the day it was released.

Valencia, a former Anaheim City Council member, expressed alarm over the lease’s implications for the city and its residents. “This agreement, meant to safeguard the city’s interests, has instead left Anaheim vulnerable to significant risks and missed opportunities,” he asserted. He urged city officials to act promptly, emphasizing the need for oversight.

Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey defended the team’s investments in the stadium, stating that the organization has invested millions to enhance the fan experience. Team owner Arte Moreno has previously suggested that he would commit further resources to the stadium only if there is cooperation from city officials, saying, “I’m not going to put $200 or $300 million into a stadium that a city owns without any of their participation.”

The audit’s timing is notable, coinciding with the opening day of the Major League Baseball season, which is also a day before a federal judge is set to sentence former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu for obstruction of justice, stemming from a corruption investigation surrounding stadium dealings.

The findings in the audit suggest deep-rooted challenges within the city’s agreement with the Angels, raising questions about how Anaheim officials can secure public interests amid substantial uncertainties over the stadium’s condition and financial arrangements associated with it.

As the situation unfolds, the future of Angel Stadium remains uncertain, and city officials are faced with crucial decisions impacting the relationship between taxpayers and the ownership of one of the city’s largest public assets.