Do you believe in Angels?
Do you believe in Angels?
"Bandwagon hopping" is nothing new in professional sports, but in the Angels' case, it just goes to show that for the past number of years, they have been a team without an identity. After the disappointments in the '80's and the malaise thereafter, it was natural for this franchise to lose some of its fanbase.
Not to mention the turnover in ownership from Autry family to the supposed family-oriented Disney corporation. The Rally Monkey, for all intents and purposes while whimsical, is a complete joke. Do you think, when it first appeared, that the players would embrace a furry little primate that jumps around as a symbol of its success?
It also goes to show that the general attitude of the fan population in southern California are along the lines of fickle, trendy....whatever you want to call it.
If Nick is correct and the average attendance at the Ed was only 17K early on, it's even more impressive how the fan base has grown/remerged, since Anaheim ending up averaging almost 28.5K for the year 2002. They've still got a ways to go to catch FOX's Dodgers, but they're on their way.
Even the Oakland A's and the Twins (yes, THE feel good story of the year, those Minnesota Twins) had lower average home attendance than the Halos this season. You really want to talk about disappointing? Look no further than the Detroit Tigers, a franchise rich with tradition. The owner only cares to spend $$$ on the hockey team, and it shows with a piss poor baseball club an average attendance of under 19K in a brand spanking new ballpark. That's sad.
