California state legislature to look into Angels stadium lease

Los Angeles Angels Saga is like riding Space Mountain at Disneyland. It’s a deep, dark abyss with twists and turns that are unpredictable with every jolt.

The next move was announced by two California lawmakers on Thursday as the state auditor is set to launch an investigation into the failed sale of Angel Stadium and whether the Angels complied with the stadium’s current lease.

“Our audit request will ensure that we examine any past actions and how they can inform and inform future decisions,” Sen. Tom Umberg said in a statement. “It’s the least we can do to reassure the people of Anaheim that we’re on their team.”

According to the audit request, Umberg and Valencia cited “deep concern” that the team withheld revenue owed to the city and failed to comply with stadium maintenance requirements stipulated in the lease.

Umberg said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that he has no hard evidence that the Angels have breached the lease, but believes an independent review is needed.

“On behalf of the taxpayers, this is an important thing to know,” he said.

Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said: “Angels Baseball is in full compliance with the stadium lease and, under current ownership, we have spent approximately seven times what the lease calls for on capital improvements and maintenance’.

Mike Lyster, a city spokesman, told the Times that Anaheim regularly audits the lease.

“Our most recent full audit found general compliance with the terms of the lease,” Lyster said. “This lease was one of the most thoroughly reviewed and discussed in our city. But we welcome any further review and look forward to working with our state partners.”

The whole situation with the Angels and the city of Anaheim has been sticky since 2019, when the Anaheim City Council agreed to extend the Angels’ opt-out clause in the stadium lease by one year. If the deal hadn’t happened, the Angels would have been homeless.

Another curveball came in 2022 after the FBI revealed allegations of corruption scheme centered around then mayor Harry Sidhu.

Umberg said the audit is expected to take several months. The city and team told the LA Times that there are no active discussions about a new stadium deal.

Sidhu signed a plea deal in 2023, admitting that he “provided confidential negotiation information belonging to the city … so that the Angels could purchase Angel Stadium on terms favorable to the Angels.”

Neither the FBI affidavit nor the plea agreement alleges the Angels did anything wrong.