The OC Register’s veteran real estate columnist Jonathan Lansner has penned a new column speculating on a role for Disney should the Angels depart for greener pastures in Tustin or elsewhere. He freely acknowledges having no special knowledge or insight into the negotiations or Disney’s strategic planning. Some excerpts:
The city of Anaheim and the Angels have broken off their talks. The Angels essentially wanted to control the stadium parking lot and develop that property commercially to generate a revenue stream to fund a major renovation of the stadium.
The city, which would have received a retooled stadium without spending any taxpayer cash, was concerned about giving away too much to keep the Angels. An appraisal valued the site at $225 million or more.
Tustin is trying to make the most of its old military helicopter base, which is now being redeveloped slowly. The city sees Angels owner Arte Moreno and his team’s ballpark needs as a quick way to take that property to greater heights.
Perfect match? Perhaps. And it would free up the land on which the current stadium sits.
Enter Anaheim and its 800-pound tourism gorilla. Why would Disneyland want Anaheim’s 150-acre stadium parking lot, which is not exactly next door to the Magic Kingdom?
Click here to read Lansner’s response to his own question.
