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Mickey's Other Park
Special Update, Our Day in the Diamond Club
© 2002
by Darryl Musick
If you're a Cubs fan, a Mets fan, a Red Sox fan, or any other team who perennially fails to make it to the World Series, take comfort that you're not like us...Angels fans. Our team has yet to even play in a World Series. Oh sure, we've come close. We were one pitch away from going one year but gave it up on a two out, two strike home run in the ninth inning.
That's how it goes, but we still love the cowboy's team. (For those of you going "huh?", the Angels were Gene Autry's team until his death when Disney bought out the family) I've spent my whole life trekking down to Anaheim to see our lovable losers.
NOTE: Actually this year we have a pretty decent team...knock on wood. There's always hope!
UPDATE: We Won!!
In the early days, Anaheim Stadium was smallish, with the outfield open and the only thing blocking the mountain views on clear days was the big A scoreboard in center field.
The dark days came when the Rams moved down from the Coliseum. To accommodate them, the stadium was completely enclosed making it much larger and more sterile. It was as if God himself rejected the architecture after the Rams fled to St. Louis...an earthquake heavily damaged the stadium.
Taking this opportunity, the stadium was completely remodeled. The outfield was reopened, the stadium was given a retro look with a fountain in a rock display in the outfield. The big A now stands sentinel over the tail-gate section announcing future events to commuters on the 57 freeway. When the team wins, the giant halo surrounding it lights up.
So now that you know the history, how is it going to a game in a wheelchair there? Well, in a few words, there's good, not to bad, and horrible.
Way back in our first game, wheelchair access was horrible with very little to accommodate wheelers. Staff at the time was very ignorant of their own policies. Sometimes, we were led to the wheelchair locations at the top of the lower deck. Others we were told to stow the chair in the break room and make do with whatever regular seats were available.
Some staff would send us on a Quixotic quest to walk around the stadium to find someone else to help us. Others led us through shortcuts to get to the accessible seating. Our one perk here is that one time we were led though the team's clubhouse to get to where we were going but most times it was a big pain.
Now that the stadium has been rebuilt, accessible seating and staff training has improved dramatically. It's still not among the best in the majors (PNC Park in Pittsburgh wins that honor), but it's a long way from where it was and is more than adequate.
Wheelchair seating a dispersed throughout the stadium now at just about every level except the upper deck. The seating varies in quality and does not always match the price you pay. Here is a list of the best to worst seating for wheelers (prices are for 2002 season):
1. Diamond Club - right behind home plate. $60
2. Left Field Pavilion - just above the bull pens. $7 (cheapest in
the stadium)
3. Right Field Terrace - underneath the scoreboard. $8
4. Field Box - at top of lower deck. $23
These locations do not include the luxury suites which are usually sold out and are extremely expensive when available. They do have accessible suites, however.
The Second Best Accessible Location is at the Best Price
For the price you can't beat the left field pavilion seats. You have a great view of the game and a really up-close-and-personal view of both teams pitching staffs. We are close enough to say hi...and friendly Angels bull pen catcher Orlando Mercado is always ready to greet the fans who do. The snack bar and restrooms are right behind you. The only down side to these seats is that the ushers are sometimes a bit slow to enforce the red line separating standing fans from invading your space.
The Diamond Club is pure luxury at a premium price. If you're willing to pay, the seats here put you in the heart of the action. You're as close to home plate here as the pitcher is. A private sit-down restaurant with very good food is available for those with Diamond Club tickets only. The wheelchair section is chained off to prevent interlopers. Waiter service is available at your seat. Other than the price, which is really worth it if you have it, there's no down side to these seats.
Right field terrace has the drawback of not being able to see the scoreboard (it's directly above and behind you) or the fireworks shows that they put on after every Friday evening game. It's also in a crowded location where the fans line up for the snack bar. The view is not bad but it is up much higher than the left field seats and is slightly more expensive to boot.
The field box seat's only good qualities is that they are close to the snack bars and have TV monitors to view the action. You need them here because the large overhang blocks off much of your view of the action and completely blocks the view of the scoreboard. Not to mention that these are pretty expensive seats.
Another drawback is that off-site ticket vendor Ticketmaster limits you to one companion seat with a wheelchair location. The stadium box office will accommodate multiple companion seats. I've had mixed luck calling the stadium box office ahead of time to put tickets in Will Call for multiple companions. Sometimes, they're very helpful and at other times a lot of arguing is needed to get them to sell me tickets over the phone. Our solution is to buy the first game of the season over the phone and then buy more in person for future games when we get there in person.
All restrooms have accessible stalls. There are no unisex bathrooms here but California law does allow for an opposite sex attendant to accompany a disabled person into the restroom.
Handicapped parking is available just outside of the home plate entrance, parking costs $8. If you don't want to drive, Metrolink and Amtrak provide train service to a station out in left field just beyond the parking lot.
Elevators are located in left and right fields. There is also an elevator behind home plate for suite users only. All elevators have operators. Ramps are located throughout the stadium.
Okay, so I think I've covered the most important access elements for wheelchair users. Now that you've got a seat, how's the game?
This is a Disney park with all the Disney flair you'd expect. Fireworks erupt at any opportunity from the rocks in the outfield. An Angel hits a home run?...fireworks. The Angels are taking the field?...fireworks. The Angels win?...fireworks. Introducing each Angel in the lineup?...fireworks. Although I do enjoy them, I do think they go a little overboard when they start shooting fireworks off during the national anthem. If you're sensitive to loud noises, be sure to bring along some ear plugs. Speaking of fireworks, there is also a large Disney-fied fireworks show immediately after every Friday night game.
If an Angel run scores without a home run, fountains erupt from the rocks. Pity the poor TV cameraman stationed there doomed to forever wear his raincoat.
Kids who are bored with the game can visit the fun zone beyond right field where they can play many games such as running the base paths and calling a game. Many highlights, videos, and guessing games are played on the large screen TV in right field between innings.
And of course the game. Great views and this year with a good team (2002), we've been treated to many highlights such as Darin Erstad with his many impossible diving catches; Tim Salmon hitting one "upstream"; Benjie Molina throwing out another base runner; and Mike Scosia implementing his double play defense or five-man infield.
The staff here is one of the friendliest in baseball and most are very helpful. The fans are also friendly and when the Dodgers are here, the sold out crowds erupt in massive displays of cheering contests seeing who can shout louder...Dodger fans or Angel fans. It's all great fun.
Food and drink prices can be pretty expensive here. We avoid this by going to JT Schmids just outside of the Katella Avenue gate before the game. For the same price as a hot dog, fries, and a coke inside the stadium, we can get a very good pizza or a huge sandwich with a 24 ounce hand-crafted beer.
The newly minted Edison Field may not be the absolute best stadium for a wheeler, but is does rank in the upper echelon. Using these tips for finding a good seat and a good deal, you can come out a real winner here...even if the Angels don't.
STADIUM FACTS:
Tenants: Anaheim Angels
Year Opened: 1966 (renovated in 1979 and 1997)
Capacity: 45,050
Surface: Grass
Accessible via Public Transit: Yes, Metrolink, Amtrak, and OCTA
Box Office Phone: (714) 634-2000
HANDY LINKS:
JT Schmids: www.jtschmids.com
Anaheim Angels: angelsbaseball.com
Metrolink: www.metrolinktrains.com
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