8/3/2019 Southern California baseball battlefield

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STAFF ARTIST

 

BATTLEFIELD

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

BASEBALL

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgersand San Diego Padres have all carved up their own corners

of the Southern California baseball market. And all appear tobe at the crossroads in a very fragile economy.

ON THE HORIZON: The team is in flux becauseit’s for sale after Frank and Jamie McCourt'smessy divorce. Magic Johnson, SteveGarvey, Larry King and a host of LAcelebrities are reportedly going to bid.Meanwhile, general manager Ned Colleti ison a limited budget to pursue free agents.

OWNER: On paper, the McCourts still own theteam. Bankruptcy court has ordered theteam to be sold by the end of April.

TEAM VALUE: $800 million

INLAND ROLE: Considered to be the “hometeam” for fans in San Bernardino County.The team’s 1980s marketing campaign andstar players such as Fernando Valenzuela

particularly solidified the Latino market.

ON THE HORIZON: It's been a decade since theteam won the World Series. The team parted withgeneral manager Tony Reagins, a Riverside Countynative, in October. New general manager JerryDiPoto has been given the task to regain control of the AL West, won by Texas the past two seasons.

OWNER: Arturo “Arte” Moreno. The Arizonabillboard magnate bought the team in 2003 fromDisney. He renamed the stadium (Angel Stadium of Anaheim) and withstood a court battle to renamethe team (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).

TEAM VALUE: $554 million

INLAND ROLE: Considered to be the “home team”for fans in western Riverside County and nightly“commutes” to the team’s home in Anaheim are a

summer tradition.

ON THE HORIZON: The Padres are in anotherrebuilding mode. When Petco Park opened to selloutcrowds in 2004, the Padres were on the threshold of back-to-back playoff appearances ('05-06). Since2007, however, the team has struggled on the fieldand in the stands.

OWNER: John Moores is in the process of selling theteam to Jeff Moorad. The deal will not be completeuntil 2013. Until then, the joint ownership has a limitedbudget, which has spurred trading some of thefranchise's top players (Adrian Gonzales, JakePeavy).

TEAM VALUE: $406 million

INLAND ROLE: Considered to be the “home team” forfans in southern Riverside County, particularly in the

Temecula-Murrieta area.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

47,617

Last five years Last five years Last five years

46,056

46,440

43,979

36,236

41,551

41,194

40,004

40,133

39,090

34,445

29,969

23,735

26,318

26,457

SAN DIEGO PADRESLOS ANGELES DODGERS LOS ANGELES ANGELSOF ANEHEIM

Albert Pujols signed with the Angels Thursday

N1

15

101

215

60

91

55

22

71

57

605

91

110

710

210 215

30

5

210170

118

12633

23

118

1

23 27

VENTURA

OXNARD

THOUSANDOAKS

10

10

LOS ANGELES

ANAHEIM

CORONA

RIVERSIDE

RIVERSIDECOUNTY

ORANGE

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN BERNARDINOCOUNTY

VENTURACOUNTY

SAN BERNAPASADENA

10