Once again, the Los Angeles Angels are in the middle of a losing season. But even though the Halos have the worst record in MLB, the team has helped New York Times award-winning sports author Jeff Pearlman rediscover his love for baseball.
“This year, Angels baseball has brought back my love for baseball, and in particular, my love of attending a baseball game. In the last [month] I’ve gone to probably like five games, three of the five just by myself, and you may think, ‘What kind of loser goes to a baseball game by himself?’ It’s [the] best,” Pearlman said in a TikTok video. “I buy a ticket really high up. … I get free parking because I park offsite, and I just love it.
“I love the feel of the ballpark, I love the look of the ballpark, I love the green, I love the national anthem, the seventh-inning stretch, I love that the Angels always do these really cheesy giveaways.”
Pearlman compared the price of attending to an Angels game to the expensive price of attending a Los Angeles Dodgers game. He said he does not enjoy spending $40 on parking and another $100 on a ticket.
Owner Arte Moreno Said Fans Prioritize Affordability Over Winning
Owner Arte Moreno frustrated some fans and players over the offseason when he claimed affordability is a bigger priority than winning. The Angels organization has been frugal in free agency and the trade market, which has helped keep ticket prices down but also contributed to 11 straight losing seasons.
“The number one thing fans want is affordability,” Moreno said in February. “They want affordability. They want safety, and they want a good experience when they come to the ballpark. Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.”
Pearlman’s experience this season is proving Moreno’s point.
“My new happy place is going to Angels games, parking for free, knowing I have a $5 ticket, watching the game, presuming the Angels are probably going to lose,” Pearlman said in the video. “Just relishing in the moment.”
Even though Pearlman is enjoying the affordability and fun environment of Angels’ games, there are still plenty of fans demanding change.
May 23, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels fans gather outside Angel Stadium before the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers to protest the Angels team owner Arte Moreno. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The organization will need to find a healthy balance between affordability and winning.
Photo Credit: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News