California Legislature To Hear Bill On Angels’ Name Change

New Bill Would Call For A Location Disclaimer On Angels’ Tickets

The California state Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism & Internet Media voted 9-0 to approve a bill that would “force the Angels to include a disclaimer on tickets and advertisements indicating the team plays in Anaheim, not” in L.A., according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. The bill, which now goes for approval before the state legislature, requires any professional sports team that “plays in one city and uses the name of another to disclose that fact, unless the home city waives the requirement.” The Angels did not send a rep to the vote and Angels VP/Communications Tim Mead said that the Angels have not retained a lobbyist.

SWING PLANE: Shaikin also reports that while Angels Owner Arte Moreno “repeatedly has pledged never to sell Angel merchandise with the ‘Los Angeles’ name,” a gift shop at John Wayne Airport in Orange County (CA) is selling women’s shirts for $26.99 that “feature ‘Anaheim’ more prominently than ‘Los Angeles.’” The shirts are manufactured by MLB licensee 5th and Ocean and Mead said the Angels will ask MLB to remind licensees that “we do not want ‘Los Angeles Angels’ or ‘Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’ used on merchandise” (L.A. TIMES, 5/4).

ARTE EXHIBIT: In a profile of Moreno by TIME’s INSIDE BUSINESS, Sean Gregory reports that the Angels’ revenue increased 16.7% last season to $140M, and Moreno “expects about $155[M] in” revenue this year. The team’s in-stadium advertising revenues have “more than tripled” to $17M since Moreno took over in ’03. Moreno said that he “lost $20[M] on the team last year” (TIME INSIDE BUSINESS, 6/’05 issue).