The Angels could still just play out their current Angel Stadium lease, which extends through '29GETTY IMAGES
The one-year Angel Stadium lease extension the Anaheim City Council approved in January does "not mean the current lease would expire when the extension does," and as a result, the Angels have three options "on the table" in regard to their ballpark search, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. In addition to "choosing between a new or renovated" venue in Anaheim or a "proposed waterfront ballpark in Long Beach, the Angels could simply play out their current Angel Stadium lease," which extends through '29. That last option "effectively reduces the city's leverage, since it cannot threaten to kick out the Angels" after the '20 season and sell the ballpark property. The one-year extension "does not mean the Angels' lease expires" in '20. Instead, the extension "essentially applies to the opt-out clause, meaning the Angels can either opt out by Dec. 31 and leave" after the '20 season, or stay through '29 "under the current lease." That Dec. 31 deadline "explains why the Angels have said they plan to make a decision on Anaheim or Long Beach by year's end." The Long Beach option "presumably would require the Angels to try to negotiate a short-term lease for Angel Stadium while the Long Beach ballpark is built," much like how the Raiders "negotiated a short-term lease to stay in Oakland while their new Las Vegas stadium is completed" (L.A. TIMES, 8/15).
DEADLINE SET: Anaheim City Manager Chris Zapata said that the city "expects to see the team's pitch for a new long-term lease within 60 days, and economic consultant Larry Kosmont has been hired to help evaluate it." In California, Alicia Robinson notes Anaheim City Councilman Jose Moreno "announced two community forums -- Aug. 21 and 29 -- to answer residents' questions and hear from the community on a potential new lease with the city's arguably most prominent tenant." Moreno yesterday said that he "called for council discussions and public meetings on any Angel Stadium deal because he felt the community was left out of the process last time there were serious talks," roughly from '13-16. Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey said that Zapata's two-month time frame is "realistic, and now that the city has a new stadium property appraisal in hand, they can begin talks in earnest" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/15).
