Attending an Angels game in the era of Covid

For many of us, a trip to the ballpark is a welcomed experience and a bit of a return to normalcy. If you aren’t there yet, that’s fine. But if you are, here’s a look at what you can expect when you attend a game and some tips that might help make it a more enjoyable experience.

Social Distancing

The Angels have done a good job of spacing the seats out. At no point while we were seated was there anybody near my family. We had an empty row both in front and behind us and several empty seats on each side. To ensure that people don’t just gather together in large groups, the team has zip tied the designated empty seats, making them unusable.

Seats zip tied to ensure social distancing

As far as the concourse, the team has built tall booth like structures for the wheelchair accessible seats between the base paths. This serves the double purpose of giving people in those seats some physical protection from the crowd and keeps people from standing around watching the game as the view was blocked even for me (and I stand just under 6’4″).

Parking, Concessions, Team Store

Everything is cashless now. Tickets are delivered through the MLB Ballpark app and you might as well buy parking there too. The parking attendants will accept a credit card, however, if you don’t buy parking with your tickets.

Food is also a different animal. No more standing in line to order, you can scan a barcode located all over the stadium or text “Angels” to 474747 to see available food and drink options and order directly through your phone. You get a text message when your order is ready, walk up to the vendor, show the receipt and walk away with your order.

I had Club level seats and the app basically replaced the waiter. I put in my seats and order and a few minutes later my food arrived. I actually preferred this to the old system of trying to waive a waiter down, looking around for him/her during game time.

My son wanted pizza, which isn’t offered on the Club level. Here’s where a little Angels Stadium know how comes into play. The app will ask you for your seating section. I entered section 130 (field level seats down the right field line) and Oggi’s popped up as an option. I walked down to get the pizza after receiving a text it was ready. In and out in seconds.

Our friend Steelgolf articulated some difficulties on Opening Day and sent me pictures of huge crowds waiting for food outside of a Classic Hits. I did not see that Monday. I will say that as I walked around to get the pizza, the line at Classic Hits was considerably longer than other vendors, probably 20 deep, but it was moving.

I did not see any vendors carrying items up and down the aisles. Hopefully that ballpark tradition comes back.

The Team Store has a line out front and staffers limit the number of patrons in the store at a time. The Hall of Fame store upstairs seemed to have less inventory than usual, but I’m not sure who.

Leaving the Big A

The only avenue to exit the parking lot is Orangewood. I found that out after driving up to the Gene Autry way exit only to find all of the gates closed. They should do a better job directing traffic as quite a few people went my way.

Full disclosure, I left about the 7th inning so this might change. Yeah, call me a Dodger fan but Monday’s game was long and slow and my three year old needed a bath and bedtime.

Tips

25% capacity means 25% of the normal amount of cars in the parking lot. There’s no need to buy preferred parking. It is all preferred parking right now.

I bookmarked the concession ordering page so I can order my food and drink as I wait in line to get into the ballpark. That way I should be able to grab my son’s cheese pizza on the way to our seats.

Overall

It felt so great to be back at the ballpark. I felt just as safe as a normal night eating at a restaurant patio or walking in a park. And the fans who are there are genuine fans. The ballpark was loud, full of energy, and a great boost for my mental health.

Angels fan Ava happy to be back at the ballpark with her family.

24 Comments
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BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Two questions:

  1. Any idea when the tickets for Fathers Day will go on sale?
  2. Is it possible to buy only 2 tickets on the club level?
cookmeister
Trusted Member
2 years ago

alright I’m going to be the narc here:

You can order whatever food/drink you want once, and then go back and get the same thing again for free. The food people literally just look at what you ordered, and they go get it. No scanning of anything, nothing. I’m too honest to do that, but I know a TON of people that basically payed for 1 beer, screen shot their receipt, and then everyone else used the same receipt.

Sharkysurf
Member
2 years ago

Very helpful, thank you! We will be taking Mamashark on Mother’s day (if we can get tickets).

IvanX
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Thanks for this. I’m just excited at the prospect of being at the big A this year! Yankee Stadium is where I’ve seen the Angels for the last two decades, but, being back in CA, home awaits. I actually loved seeing the Angels in NY, especially since somehow the Angels always hurt the Yanks during the Torre years and somehow Yankees fans respected that; they never gave me much shit, and often spoke with praise of GA and Vlad and Scoscia. But I hate the not-so-new ballpark and I’m ready to see the Halos play where they belong.

Last edited 2 years ago by IvanX
Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  IvanX

Welcome back. Been to both old and new bronx stadiums. As an Angels fan, I’ll take Anaheim

Jim Atkins
Super Member
2 years ago

We were there on the field level. Decided to blow some of the stimulus check on something worthwhile. Most people were wearing masks, but quite a few weren’t. Maybe from Huntington Beach. We got seriously cold and left at the end of the 6th, Gene Autry was still open then. Felt really good, crowd was enthusiastic, and just nice to do something again.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Come say that to Tito’s face Jim! 😉

Last edited 2 years ago by Angels2020Champs
rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Thanks for the update on the current experience at the ballpark. I have one question: is the limit currently 25%? I thought that when the OC went to the Orange tier, the limit was upped to 33%.

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Checking the attendance in the box score, your estimate was very close. I was just assuming a sellout, but it was a day game.

ryanfea
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  rspencer

They are selling 33% of tickets but tons of the 4, 5 and 6 seat pods are unsold. Much harder to find 2 or 3 seat pods.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  ryanfea

And I’m screwed because I like to go solo. Do I have to buy a full pod?

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

What about the food court area north of the main gate where they have the Poke’? And the barbecue place just south east inside the gates?

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I was dreading that. I love the Poke burrito.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

I went to games on 4/2, 4/3, 4/5 and 4/6 with my 3 year old and on Trout bobblehead night brought my 1 year old. Sat in LF, 400s, 200s and 100s. Every game was a little different but all well worth the 500+ day wait for in person baseball.
Overall I was pleased with parking. I just happened to enter/exit off orange wood because I was always entering gate 1 or 2. Limited capacity meant I didn’t have to carry my kids with their essentials as far.
Seats are as advertised above, it was nice to have space for myself and kids but also close enough to others to engage. Kids really likes walk up music, chants started from the crowd, fireworks, etc. Concession were fine, I used Classic hits for peanuts, hotdogs, etc. There were lines and even ran out of something at one so had to walk to another to fulfill order. Oh well. Limited capacity made that experience, going to the restroom and sitting in the seats more enjoyable than I remember. There are some things I will probably miss when we get to full capacity.
I thought the Angels and their staff did a great job. Ushers were engaging and friendly where I kind of remember them being a little less than that. Going to the team store was cool when there wasn’t anyone in there. I will be at a few more games this month and hope to get to a batting practice or talk to a relief pitcher (saw this multiple games in 260) to get a different experience for the kids. I haven’t been to Bud RF Patio, any suite or 300 seating so can’t speak for experiences there.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Crowd noise and engagement surprised me for just 25% or so too. Vast majority of Angels fans, a sprinkling of white sox fans, even less bastros ones and some dodgers at each. I know most like to get closer/sit between the foul poles, but having everyone spread out works well now.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

I will be there a week from this Friday to experience the new pandemic baseball experience. by then I will have been vaccinated and will wear a mask except when eating / drinking. I’m guessing the free sodas for the “designated driver” campaign is not in effect. My kid will want a soda and at least 2 hot dogs and something else during a long game night. I will be in sec. 102 and will try ordering food as I wait to get into the stadium. I’m guessing with all the Coviddy rules, that kids won’t be able to get autographs down by the field during warm ups.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

So I need to report on this poor handling by the Angel organization.

As a season ticket holder, I was sent an email and materials in late February asking me to make a choice for the season – (1) opt in and get tickets to the reduced capacity games in different seat locations or (2) opt out during the reduced capacity seating with seats restored for 2021 once the stadium returned to full-capacity. This was supposed to apply to the season.

Today the Organization changed their tune and put the season ticket holders to a new choice (1) opt-in for reduced capacity games starting May 1 or (2) opt out for the rest of the season with your being forced to give up your seats even if the stadium returns to full capacity.

The Feb email allowed ticket holders some space and time with the ability to return to their seats in 2021 once full capacity returned.

The latest email forces the season ticket holder to be okay with being moved to different locations and attending games during the pandemic or they lose their options to return to their seats in 2021.

This seems like very poor PR by the team with regard to its season ticket holders who made a choice at the beginning of the season which was supposed to apply to all of 2021. Now they have changed their tune putting their season ticket holders to an uncomfortable choice.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Update. I spoke with my representative. Apparently I am not the first to call with this issue. It’s been dominating the telephone lines. The team apparently intends to send out a revised email explaining the situation more clearly. There appears to be concern in the Organization that even if the Angels are given the go-ahead for full capacity – there will be limitations that apply. Which would make it impossible to accommodate all season ticket holders. I get that – but there needs to be transparency. For what it is worth, the rep I spoke with was excellent.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Sounds frustrating ‘71. Hope it’s gets worked out to your needs!