angel stadium guide
Angel Stadium of Anaheim underwent major renovations starting in 1996. I won't bore you with the details, but you can find them on the team website under Angel Stadium. This guide is going to focus on the smartest way to see an Angel's game
parking
You will undoubtedly receive many opinions when it comes to parking and/or traveling to an Angel's game. One thing is certain; the Angels have an enormous parking lot surrounding the stadium. The official parking will run you $8, and for most people that is a fair price to pay when you can exit pretty quickly. If you are going to go that route it is important to consider your exit strategy. One such strategy is to enter the lot via State College BLVD. and park in the front if possible. Typically you can be out of the lot in less than 10 minutes after a game. You really should not be afraid to drive to an Angels game as the ample parking makes it very driver friendly.
Perhaps the best way to get free parking at Angel Stadium is to visit Throwbacks Sports Bar before the game. From their website "Throwbacks features a shuttle bus that will drop off and pick up customers at Throwbacks before and after all Angels home games. Shuttle leaves 30 minutes before game starts, and will pick you up 20 minutes after game ends. So come in and have some dinner and drinks and let us take you to the game." Free shuttles like this are a great way for fans to save money. First of all, you can pay real world prices for food and drink before the game. Secondly you don't have the hassle of fighting traffic yourself and you have to walk a lot less as you get dropped off closer to the ballpark.
Depending on where you are coming from, the Metrolink will drop you off at the edge of the Angel Stadium parking lot. If you live in town you know where the closest station is, but if you are an out-of-towner you probably want to check for stations near your hotel. Most of the stations offer free parking and from there you can ride the train right to the stadium. This is the better option if your palms start to sweat at the mention of navigating through traffic. The cost of the ride may equal out to that of parking, but you have to factor in the cost of your time and of course gas money. Here is a link to a handy calculator that will assist in making your decision. Free parking can also be had around the stadium if you don't mind walking a little further. For me that is not a big deal, but if you have little kids or you don't like to walk more than 10 minutes to the stadium, I would do one of the first to options. The area across Orangewood Ave. has several side streets where free parking can be had. This is a more feasible option for a night game, but keep an eye out for any street signs or meters to make sure you are not parking illegally.
food
If you are cheap like me, you have to be picky when it comes to ballpark food. I am weird about it, because sometimes you just have to have something from the stadium to round out the experience. Angel Stadium is arguably pretty bland when it comes to food variety, so when there is nothing special I go for the money saving option. Smart fans know they can bring food into Angel Stadium. There are plenty of restaurants right around the stadium, including Quizno's on Katella Ave. just North of the stadium. You can pick up dinner there for under $10 and take it into the stadium with a sealed bottle of water.
Another thing I use everywhere I go is restaurant.com . This is such an amazing way to experience different Restaurants for dirt cheap. When you click on that link, just type in the zip code of Angel Stadium (92806) and you will have tons of dining options. Typically on this site you can buy a $25 gift certificate for $10, but I never pay that much. I do a little google search for 'restaurant.com coupon codes' and find discounts for 60 - 80% off. Yes, I have bought many o $25 cerificates for $2. 'The Catch' is usually you have to spend at least $35 at the place, which is easy to do. But still, if you are a bargain seeker you can get a high quality meal for what you usually pay for fast food. Now that is value.
tickets
Fans will tell you that the ushers at Angel Stadium take great pride in there job of making sure you sit where your ticket says. Many will not let you down on the lower level to take a picture without a ticket for that section. So the long standing tradition of cheap ballpark goers of moving down to better seats can be difficult at this ballpark. That being said, it becomes debatable when you start discussing where the best values in Angel Stadium are. If you are going to a day game it might be worth a little extra to sit in the Terrace box seats. I would shoot for section 206 where you are under an overhang so you avoid the sun, and you get an excellent view of the scoreboard. Those tickets will run you about $28 for most games. If it were me, I would go with upperdeck seats down either line. Angel Stadium is known for exceptional views from anywhere in the park, and for my money I would rather pay $12 for a bird's eye view. If I am not going to really splurge and sit right behind the plate, many other seats are pretty equal as far as the quality of view. If its not a sellout game, I find that sitting up high and down the lines can provide a nice breeze and a little bit of breathing room from other fans.
where to buy
I always consider Stubhub a solid option for tickets. I think the service fees you pay online are a joke when you really don't get any service to speak of. For that reason I would not be afraid to just walk up to the gate if the game is not going to sellout. You can always go the route of scalpers because this is a legal practice in California. Remember that you can typically negotiate a better deal if you wait until about game time because these guys don't want to eat the tickets. Also remember the first rule of negotiation is 'he who names the first number loses.' Ask the scalper what he wants for them and go down from there. Remember that they pay under face value, so don't be afraid to shoot low. Also, don't be afraid to walk away if they don't have the seats you want at the price you want.
Tickets are always available on eBay as well. Here is my advice for ticket buying on ebay; wait until the last minute. I know that sounds crazy, and you would think that closer to the event the prices would shoot up, but that is not the case. I have bought and sold plenty of tickets on eBay and I have found that when I sell them early I get top dollar because there is less competition. As the event gets closer, everybody in America who is selling tickets begins to list them at auction. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that when the market is flooded with supply the price is driven down. I don't know if there are any published numbers to back me up, but I have seen it time and time again. So if buying on eBay, buy late. Here are some auctions ending soon with prices under $50
parking
You will undoubtedly receive many opinions when it comes to parking and/or traveling to an Angel's game. One thing is certain; the Angels have an enormous parking lot surrounding the stadium. The official parking will run you $8, and for most people that is a fair price to pay when you can exit pretty quickly. If you are going to go that route it is important to consider your exit strategy. One such strategy is to enter the lot via State College BLVD. and park in the front if possible. Typically you can be out of the lot in less than 10 minutes after a game. You really should not be afraid to drive to an Angels game as the ample parking makes it very driver friendly.
Perhaps the best way to get free parking at Angel Stadium is to visit Throwbacks Sports Bar before the game. From their website "Throwbacks features a shuttle bus that will drop off and pick up customers at Throwbacks before and after all Angels home games. Shuttle leaves 30 minutes before game starts, and will pick you up 20 minutes after game ends. So come in and have some dinner and drinks and let us take you to the game." Free shuttles like this are a great way for fans to save money. First of all, you can pay real world prices for food and drink before the game. Secondly you don't have the hassle of fighting traffic yourself and you have to walk a lot less as you get dropped off closer to the ballpark.
Depending on where you are coming from, the Metrolink will drop you off at the edge of the Angel Stadium parking lot. If you live in town you know where the closest station is, but if you are an out-of-towner you probably want to check for stations near your hotel. Most of the stations offer free parking and from there you can ride the train right to the stadium. This is the better option if your palms start to sweat at the mention of navigating through traffic. The cost of the ride may equal out to that of parking, but you have to factor in the cost of your time and of course gas money. Here is a link to a handy calculator that will assist in making your decision. Free parking can also be had around the stadium if you don't mind walking a little further. For me that is not a big deal, but if you have little kids or you don't like to walk more than 10 minutes to the stadium, I would do one of the first to options. The area across Orangewood Ave. has several side streets where free parking can be had. This is a more feasible option for a night game, but keep an eye out for any street signs or meters to make sure you are not parking illegally.
food
If you are cheap like me, you have to be picky when it comes to ballpark food. I am weird about it, because sometimes you just have to have something from the stadium to round out the experience. Angel Stadium is arguably pretty bland when it comes to food variety, so when there is nothing special I go for the money saving option. Smart fans know they can bring food into Angel Stadium. There are plenty of restaurants right around the stadium, including Quizno's on Katella Ave. just North of the stadium. You can pick up dinner there for under $10 and take it into the stadium with a sealed bottle of water.
Another thing I use everywhere I go is restaurant.com . This is such an amazing way to experience different Restaurants for dirt cheap. When you click on that link, just type in the zip code of Angel Stadium (92806) and you will have tons of dining options. Typically on this site you can buy a $25 gift certificate for $10, but I never pay that much. I do a little google search for 'restaurant.com coupon codes' and find discounts for 60 - 80% off. Yes, I have bought many o $25 cerificates for $2. 'The Catch' is usually you have to spend at least $35 at the place, which is easy to do. But still, if you are a bargain seeker you can get a high quality meal for what you usually pay for fast food. Now that is value.
tickets
Fans will tell you that the ushers at Angel Stadium take great pride in there job of making sure you sit where your ticket says. Many will not let you down on the lower level to take a picture without a ticket for that section. So the long standing tradition of cheap ballpark goers of moving down to better seats can be difficult at this ballpark. That being said, it becomes debatable when you start discussing where the best values in Angel Stadium are. If you are going to a day game it might be worth a little extra to sit in the Terrace box seats. I would shoot for section 206 where you are under an overhang so you avoid the sun, and you get an excellent view of the scoreboard. Those tickets will run you about $28 for most games. If it were me, I would go with upperdeck seats down either line. Angel Stadium is known for exceptional views from anywhere in the park, and for my money I would rather pay $12 for a bird's eye view. If I am not going to really splurge and sit right behind the plate, many other seats are pretty equal as far as the quality of view. If its not a sellout game, I find that sitting up high and down the lines can provide a nice breeze and a little bit of breathing room from other fans.
where to buy
I always consider Stubhub a solid option for tickets. I think the service fees you pay online are a joke when you really don't get any service to speak of. For that reason I would not be afraid to just walk up to the gate if the game is not going to sellout. You can always go the route of scalpers because this is a legal practice in California. Remember that you can typically negotiate a better deal if you wait until about game time because these guys don't want to eat the tickets. Also remember the first rule of negotiation is 'he who names the first number loses.' Ask the scalper what he wants for them and go down from there. Remember that they pay under face value, so don't be afraid to shoot low. Also, don't be afraid to walk away if they don't have the seats you want at the price you want.
Tickets are always available on eBay as well. Here is my advice for ticket buying on ebay; wait until the last minute. I know that sounds crazy, and you would think that closer to the event the prices would shoot up, but that is not the case. I have bought and sold plenty of tickets on eBay and I have found that when I sell them early I get top dollar because there is less competition. As the event gets closer, everybody in America who is selling tickets begins to list them at auction. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that when the market is flooded with supply the price is driven down. I don't know if there are any published numbers to back me up, but I have seen it time and time again. So if buying on eBay, buy late. Here are some auctions ending soon with prices under $50
If you buy through angels.com, stubhub, or any other major online source; do me a favor and google "(website name) coupon code". Last year I was able to find a 50% off coupon for reds.com and several stubhub coupon codes that I used. It takes about 5 minutes to sift through the results, but you never know what you might find.
where to stay
I think this depends on the purpose of your trip. If you are coming to Anaheim just to take in a game at Angel Stadium, you may want to check out some hotels near the stadium. The nice benefit of course is that if it is close enough you can leave your car at the hotel and walk to Angel Stadium. That will save you the $8 to park and you won't sit in traffic. If I could make a personal recommendation, I always use Hotwire for my travel accomodations. I could give you multiple examples in cities around the nation where I have ended up with a phenomenal deal.
If you are really strapped for cash, you could also try Couch Surfing. Couch Surfing is more of an option for the single guy or group of guys. It is a network of people who will let you sleep for free on their couch or in a guest room. I have never used it personally, but I know people who swear by its effectiveness. My recommendation would be to find someone with a good amount of references and maybe even a mention of being an Angel's fan in their profile. If the thought of that terrifies you; don't do it. Something else that is a little more legitimate if you will, is Home Exchange. This costs $100 to join, but then you can swap houses for free with other vacationers and save yourself a ton of money when you travel. This seems to be the most reputable company that does this, and they boast an unblemished safety record. If you are traveling to Anaheim to see Angel Stadium and staying for Disneyland, this may be a wonderful option.
where to stay
I think this depends on the purpose of your trip. If you are coming to Anaheim just to take in a game at Angel Stadium, you may want to check out some hotels near the stadium. The nice benefit of course is that if it is close enough you can leave your car at the hotel and walk to Angel Stadium. That will save you the $8 to park and you won't sit in traffic. If I could make a personal recommendation, I always use Hotwire for my travel accomodations. I could give you multiple examples in cities around the nation where I have ended up with a phenomenal deal.
If you are really strapped for cash, you could also try Couch Surfing. Couch Surfing is more of an option for the single guy or group of guys. It is a network of people who will let you sleep for free on their couch or in a guest room. I have never used it personally, but I know people who swear by its effectiveness. My recommendation would be to find someone with a good amount of references and maybe even a mention of being an Angel's fan in their profile. If the thought of that terrifies you; don't do it. Something else that is a little more legitimate if you will, is Home Exchange. This costs $100 to join, but then you can swap houses for free with other vacationers and save yourself a ton of money when you travel. This seems to be the most reputable company that does this, and they boast an unblemished safety record. If you are traveling to Anaheim to see Angel Stadium and staying for Disneyland, this may be a wonderful option.