Council to Weigh Smoking Ban in Stadium, Arena

An ordinance that would ban smoking in Anaheim Stadium’s seating area and throughout the soon-to-be completed Anaheim Arena is slated for consideration at today’s City Council meeting.

The proposed ordinance also would ban smoking inside any city-owned building, including City Hall, police and fire stations. Exempted would be offices rented by private tenants, such as the executive suites leased by the California Angels and Los Angeles Rams at the stadium.

The law was proposed last month by City Councilman Irv Pickler, who said he had received complaints from several stadium-goers who have been bothered by secondhand smoke.

Under the ordinance, smoking would be permitted on the stadium’s concourse and ramps, but not in the stands.

If it adopts the ordinance, Anaheim would join a handful of cities, including San Diego, Baltimore and Detroit, that limit smoking in outdoor stadiums.

Almost all indoor arenas have regulations limiting smoking in seating areas and some ban it entirely throughout the building.

If the council gives tentative approval to the ordinance tonight, it will be brought back to the council for final approval next Tuesday.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.