The Stadium of Angels

Official Review by J.C. Ayvazi, Stadium Journey Correspondent

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The number 3 plays a significant role when it comes to the Angels and where they are in their history.

Opened April 9, 1966, Angel Stadium of Anaheim is in its third incarnation. Originally named Anaheim Stadium (and commonly referred to as “The Big A”), the facility was enclosed to accommodate the Los Angeles Rams football team for the 1980 season. When the Rams were moved to St. Louis, the stadium was again converted to a baseball-only structure, and given the name of Edison International Field of Anaheim. After six seasons, the name was changed again to its current title, Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Three different owners have operated the Angel franchise, founder Gene Autry, The Walt Disney Company, and current owner Artie Moreno. Finally, the Angels are set to host their third All-Star Game in 2010, after previously holding the event in 1967 and 1989.

The Angels have won one World Series, the only one they have appeared in, against the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Seven times they have won the AL Western Division title and have claimed the Wild Card once.

Food & Beverage   5/5

In addition to traditional ballpark fare, Angel Stadium offers a variety of dining options. There are five different BBQ options at various points around the stadium. Chicken, ribs, sausage and hot dogs are among the options.

Other options include Panda Express, Ruby’s Diner, Carl’s Jr., Angelito’s. Chili Peppers, and California Pizza Kitchen. Soft serve ice cream and ICEE stands are available to treat your sweet tooth. Adult beverages are available with upscale beers and mixed drinks at various locations around the stadium.

There are three different sit down clubs for fans' enjoyment. The Diamond Club is exclusively for those with Diamond Club season tickets behind home plate. You can enjoy either the full buffet or order from the full service restaurant. The Knothole club is on the Club level by the right field foul pole. It is open to Club Level season ticket holders only up to the 6th inning, when members of the general public may enjoy the a la carte menu. On the top level is the Home Plate Club, which features a buffet. It is open to the public. All three clubs have full bars and accept reservations up to three days in advance.

Atmosphere   3/5

Neighborhood   3/5

A lot of newer construction has appeared around the stadium, which offers both residential and commercial space. There are plenty of fast food and quick sit down restaurants within a few blocks of the stadium.

Located next to Angel Stadium’s outfield parking access road, as well as across the street from the Honda Center, home of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, J.T. Schmid’s is a microbrewery with an extensive menu of excellent food choices. A fantastic place for fans either before or after the game, this restaurant/brewery has room for up to 1,000 customers.

There are extensive bar areas with plenty of open space. 13 TV monitors allow fans to catch just about all the games being played. J.T. Schmid’s has an excellent adjustable hours policy, staying open for a couple of hours after events at Angel Stadium and the Honda Center. They also serve as the room service provider for the adjacent Ayres Hotel.

This restaurant prides itself on serving handcrafted beers brewed on site, with six different beers being available the day we visited. There is also a fair selection of bottled beers along with over 20 wines to choose from. Plenty of mixed drink specials are available, including an extensive selection of Martinis.

Among the menu choices one will find steak, fish, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and salads. There are plenty of appetizers to choose from and a dozen side dishes. Generously sized portions are fairly priced, and make sure not to miss the sweet potato fries!

There is an additional J.T. Schmid’s located at the District at Tustin Legacy, formerly the site of the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.

Fans   3/5

Access   4/5

Return on Investment   4/5

Extras   2/5

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