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Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Name Dispute
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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim name dispute refers to the legal and political battle between Angels Baseball, L.P., the ownership group of the Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim , and the City Of Anaheim over the official name of the ballclub.

The team joined the American League in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels, playing in Los Angeles at Wrigley Field . They moved to Dodger Stadium in 1962 . During the 1965 season, the team changed its name to the California Angels, moving to Anaheim Stadium in 1966 . The stadium was and is owned by the City of Anaheim.

The team changed its name again, to the Anaheim Angels , in 1997 , the result of an agreement between the city and the Angels to refurbish and downsize Anaheim Stadium. One clause of the new lease required that the team name "include the name Anaheim therein." At the time, the Angels were partly owned and effectively controlled by the Walt Disney Company which had a vested interest in promoting Anaheim as a so-called "destination city." Disney was in the process also of refurbishing its aging Disneyland theme park located in Anaheim.

The team was sold in 2003 to Angels Baseball, L.P., a limited partnership headed by Arturo "Arte" Moreno . During 2004 , it was noted by many observers that the new ownership was downplaying or removing "Anaheim" from team uniforms, merchandise, and publications. On January 3 2005 the Angels announced that they would change the name of the club to the ''Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim''. Team spokesmen pointed out that from its inception, the Angels had been granted the American League's territorial rights by Major League Baseball to the Counties of Los Angeles , Ventura , Riverside , and San Bernardino in addition to Orange County .

''The inclusion of Los Angeles reflects the original expansion name and returns the Angels as Major League Baseball's American League representative in the Greater Los Angeles territory.''
:— Angels' 2005 Media Guide


New owner Moreno believed the new name would help him market the team to the entire Southern California region rather than just Orange County. The ''of Anaheim'' phrase was included in the official name to comply with a provision of the team's lease at Angel Stadium which requires that the team's name "include the name Anaheim therein."

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and other city officials countered that the name change violated the spirit of the lease clause, even if in technical compliance. They argued that a name change was a major bargaining chip in negotiations between the city and Disney, and that the wording of the clause was merely to allow Disney some "wiggle room" in selecting the team name. (Disney chairman Michael Eisner reportedly considered naming the team the ''Mighty Angels of Anaheim.'') They further argued that the city would never have agreed to the new lease without the name change, because the new lease required that the city partially fund the stadium's renovation while reducing annual revenue for the city. Anaheim sued Angels Baseball L.P. in Orange County Superior Court, seeking monetary damages and a restoration of the ''Anaheim Angels'' name. A trial, initially set for November 7 , 2005 was postponed until January 9 2006 .



The city also sought a 2005 . Though a ruling had been anticipated by April 7 , 2005 the three judges of the appellate court merely urged the city and the team to work towards a settlement prior to trial. The appellate court ruled against against Anaheim's request for an injunction on June 27 , 2005 .

The case proceeded to jury trial on January 9 , 2006 , and on February 9 , 2006 , the jury found in favor of the team, determining that the ''Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim'' name was in compliance with the lease, and thus denying the city any monetary compensation. Both citing the jury verdict finding the team in compliance and noting that his own conclusion agreed with that judgment, on March 2 , 2006, the judge in the case formally denied the city's request to force the team to restore the ''Anaheim Angels'' name.

Although a final decision has not yet been made, Anaheim city officials have indicated that it is unlikely that the city will attempt to Appeal the jury's decision.


The "Truth in Sports Advertising Act."


In a related matter, on where, on May 26, 2005, it was referred to the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.

State Senate hearings scheduled on June 7 and June 27, 2005 were cancelled at the request of Assemblyman Umberg. On July 11, 2005, the hearing was postponed indefinitely by the Senate committee.