There was a time when you'd be forgiven if you attended an Angels game in Anaheim, Calif., or Los Angeles, and expected to see a kid next to Danny Glover flapping his arms in the bleachers.
But reality has Arte Moreno taking over ownership from Disney in 2003 and ushering in an era of significant fan-friendliness, including what is still the most affordable ballpark experience in the American League, with a Fan Cost Index of $129.50.
The big word around town at the time of Moreno's takeover was the announcement of lowered beer prices at the park, and sure enough, they're still among the least expensive in the majors at $4.50 a piece. The overall effort, however, was to make the ballpark as family friendly as possible.
"We've not deviated from our strategy on pricing," says Robert Alvarado, vice president of marketing and ticket sales for the Angels. "We want to provide the baseball experience to as many people as possible."
As a result, the Angels employ such specials as $5 tickets for fans 18 and under and a family special for $44 (which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four small sodas).