Angels tell Anaheim they're opting out of their lease on Angel Stadium

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Time for a bump to this thread.

It appears a new political scandal has potentially emerged involving the Angels Stadium sale that could have spillover impacts on the future balance of political power in Anaheim - and by extension TDA and even the future of Disneyland Forward in considering the company’s closeness to Mayor Sidhu.

I will be careful with my commentary on this, I’m sure there are others here with more expertise. Very unfortunate all around.

Quoting from the article:

<<Anaheim’s Angel Stadium land sale was temporarily halted by Orange County Superior Court Judge Glenn Salter stemming from a public corruption probe into Mayor Harry Sidhu’s negotiations with the team.

The city was poised to finalize a stipulated judgment with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the state Housing and Community Development Department for violating the Surplus Land Act when council members decided to sell the stadium in late 2019.

“We will continue this ex parte for 60 days … in the meantime the court will not sign the stipulated judgement.” Salter said Monday afternoon.

Salter granted Bonta’s 60-day hold on the stipulated judgment.

“We are seriously concerned about new information we have received about this deal and are asking the court to pause its consideration of the stipulated judgment in light of this information,” officials from Bonta’s office said in a Monday email

A sworn affidavit from an FBI agent named Brian Adkins in Bonta’s abrupt Monday court filing casted doubt on the whole process.

Federal officials allege that Sidhu tried ramming the deal through this year so he could get his reelection campaign financed by the Angels – likely through a political action committee, which typically spends money on mailers and other political advertising.

“I am hoping to get at least a million from I’m going to be pushing it. [Angels Representative 1] actually asked me. [Angels Representative 1] said, ‘What can I do for your election?’ I said, ‘Let me finish your deal first, and then we’ll talk about that,’” Sidhu said to an unnamed Chamber of Commerce employee in a recorded phone call, according to Adkins’ affidavit.>>

OC Judge Halts Angel Stadium Sale Amidst FBI Corruption Probe of Anaheim Mayor

The ruling comes as explosive allegations of public corruption were made public Monday, stemming from a federal probe into Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu.

voiceofoc.org

 

[truecoat]

Time for a bump to this thread.

It appears a new political scandal has potentially emerged involving the Angels Stadium sale that could have spillover impacts on the future balance of political power in Anaheim - and by extension TDA and even the future of Disneyland Forward in considering the company’s closeness to Mayor Sidhu.

I will be careful with my commentary on this, I’m sure there are others here with more expertise. Very unfortunate all around.

Quoting from the article:

<<Anaheim’s Angel Stadium land sale was temporarily halted by Orange County Superior Court Judge Glenn Salter stemming from a public corruption probe into Mayor Harry Sidhu’s negotiations with the team.

The city was poised to finalize a stipulated judgment with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the state Housing and Community Development Department for violating the Surplus Land Act when council members decided to sell the stadium in late 2019.

“We will continue this ex parte for 60 days … in the meantime the court will not sign the stipulated judgement.” Salter said Monday afternoon.

Salter granted Bonta’s 60-day hold on the stipulated judgment.

“We are seriously concerned about new information we have received about this deal and are asking the court to pause its consideration of the stipulated judgment in light of this information,” officials from Bonta’s office said in a Monday email

A sworn affidavit from an FBI agent named Brian Adkins in Bonta’s abrupt Monday court filing casted doubt on the whole process.

Federal officials allege that Sidhu tried ramming the deal through this year so he could get his reelection campaign financed by the Angels – likely through a political action committee, which typically spends money on mailers and other political advertising.

“I am hoping to get at least a million from I’m going to be pushing it. [Angels Representative 1] actually asked me. [Angels Representative 1] said, ‘What can I do for your election?’ I said, ‘Let me finish your deal first, and then we’ll talk about that,’” Sidhu said to an unnamed Chamber of Commerce employee in a recorded phone call, according to Adkins’ affidavit.>>

OC Judge Halts Angel Stadium Sale Amidst FBI Corruption Probe of Anaheim Mayor

The ruling comes as explosive allegations of public corruption were made public Monday, stemming from a federal probe into Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu.

voiceofoc.org

The only thing different between this and other politicians is that he was caught. You can legally buy politicians as long as you don't talk about it.

 

[GimpYancIent]

The Angels have been eyeing moving away out of Anaheim and the county for quite some time, not new. This latest development could be interesting from the aspect IF Disney would be interested in the property? Though not immediately adjacent to DL and CA TWDC could develop it since there is corporate interest in real state now and the value of property in Cali is not going down.

 

[el_super]

Another example of bad Anaheim city leadership.

Meh.

 

[el_super]

The Angels have been eyeing moving away out of Anaheim and the county for quite some time, not new. This latest development could be interesting from the aspect IF Disney would be interested in the property? Though not immediately adjacent to DL and CA TWDC could develop it since there is corporate interest in real state now and the value of property in Cali is not going down.

Amidst the outrage over the FBI investigation, quite a bit of ire at the city council meeting was directed at the council that continually rolled over to Disney's demands and money.

With everything going on in Florida, I have a strong suspicion that Disney is not going to want to approach the city to attempt a deal for the land.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Why, because the city is getting 777 Affordable housing units?

From the LAT... >>Councilman Jose Moreno, who voted against the deal in December, said he was gratified for the inclusion of affordable housing and said the subsidy of $265,000 per unit is in line with local market trends. <<

Because we are getting a 7 Acre premium park, plus 5.2 acres of city-required community park space, 11 acres of flexible open space

City revenue: projected net yearly property, sales and hotel tax revenue; by 2050 would be five times the $8 million seen each year from all of the Platinum Triangle o 2025: $6.6 million o 2030: $12.5 million o 2035: $25 million o 2040: $29.4 million o 2045: $33.5 million o 2050: $38.3 million

What are wrong with these things?

https://www.anaheim.net/DocumentCenter/View/33739/Big-A-2050-proposal-fact-sheet-fall-2020

What's wrong with it? It's all sound bites, noise, talk, hot air, projections. It has been years since inception w no real action. It seems the log jam may be moving though not nicely.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Amidst the outrage over the FBI investigation, quite a bit of ire at the city council meeting was directed at the council that continually rolled over to Disney's demands and money.

With everything going on in Florida, I have a strong suspicion that Disney is not going to want to approach the city to attempt a deal for the land.

Too bad. True, Disney may be gun-shy. Too many irons in the fire.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Amidst the outrage over the FBI investigation, quite a bit of ire at the city council meeting was directed at the council that continually rolled over to Disney's demands and money.

With everything going on in Florida, I have a strong suspicion that Disney is not going to want to approach the city to attempt a deal for the land.

While I don’t like this per se, I fully agree with your sentiment.

Losing Mayor Sidhu who is a rare (business friendly) Republican for this day and the ripple effects and fallout that would come from that seems likely to be a major “under the radar loss” for TDA.

Left or Right: The city politics is only more likely to lean into a more populist/anti-Disney direction as a result of this.

 

[shambolicdefending]

No dog in the fight here, but if they don't have more than that blurb in a recorded phone call, I doubt this amounts to much.

 

[el_super]

No dog in the fight here, but if they don't have more than that blurb in a recorded phone call, I doubt this amounts to much.

It's a bit deeper than that. The city was being sued by the state to prevent the sale, as it was believed there was a violation of the Surplus Land Act. The FBI investigation was made public, as it also indicated that the mayor lied in his testimony to the court regarding the lawsuit.

 

[Phroobar]

Dr. Moreno for Anaheim Mayor.



TDA: Oh hell no!

 

[Newtwo]

 

[Stevek]

Sidhu resigned today

Anaheim mayor resigns amid corruption probe into his role in Angel Stadium land sale

Harry Sidhu said in a statement released by his lawyer that he did nothing wrong.

www.latimes.com

 

[Phroobar]

I wonder how many of the secretive “cabal” of power brokers work for TDA. Disney Forward and the Eastern Gateway are so not going to happen.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I thought it was a great deal for both Anaheim and the Angels, we just got shafted for almost a billion dollars to bring the Raiders here, I’d have been thrilled if all we did was give them a deal on some city owned land instead of raising the taxes on every tourist who comes here, which just means a little less spent in the casinos. They got their practice facility land for pennies on the dollar from Henderson, sold it right after for millions, and are now leasing it back. I won’t be surprised if the As get a ton of money thrown at them to move here also.

I know people hate giving professional sports a hand out but compared to a lot of stadium deals this was an amazing one for Anaheim.

 

[mickEblu]

Mayor Tait saved Toontown and Mayor Sidhu saved Disneyland from what was sure to be a terrible expansion of cheesy single IP lands like Toy Story and Zootopia. It was going to be so great to see NOS get demolished for a pathway to Zootopia land.

I’m kidding of kind of. I was on board with Disneyland forward for everywhere except Disneyland. I also don’t think this will change any plans.

 

[D.Silentu]

I’m kidding of kind of. I was on board with Disneyland forward for everywhere except Disneyland. I also don’t think this will change any plans.

I hope you're right. The goodwill that was fawned upon teachers at the start of the pandemic is starting to ebb; let's hope Anaheim doesn't forget the resort's role in their economy as quickly.

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

I wonder how many of the secretive “cabal” of power brokers work for TDA. Disney Forward and the Eastern Gateway are so not going to happen.

Oh, I expect there will be some regrouping. I still say the big game is when Disney and Anaheim sit down to do some old-fashioned horse trading. Each one has things the other wants.

I view Disney Forward the same way I do the original Westcot--throw it at the wall and see if it sticks. Eastern Gateway will happen some form eventually. But what is really needed is a new Master Plan for the DL Resort. Adding on piecemeal is counter-productive.

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

It was going to be so great to see NOS get to demolished for a pathway to Zootopia land.

I question that whole transition. It would require relocating the entire West Side Cooling complex from between Mansion and Pirates show buildings, plus presumably demolishing the West Sider CM cafe and the NO Train Station. But if they can shorten TSI and put an S-curve in the DLRR, then I guess they have more money to burn. But it would be a disaster to route traffic through the park between Mansion and French Market. This would do to Mansion's extended queue what building Indy did to Pirates. Then what do they do--go under the DLRR, but then up and over the tram route and DL Drive?

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

While I don’t like this per se, I fully agree with your sentiment.

Losing Mayor Sidhu who is a rare (business friendly) Republican for this day and the ripple effects and fallout that would come from that seems likely to be a major “under the radar loss” for TDA.

Left or Right: The city politics is only more likely to lean into a more populist/anti-Disney direction as a result of this.

This will be a bumpy ride before the dust settles. If Darkbeer is ever released from his NDAs, the telling of this story will be a two popcorn bucket event.