Big Hike for Some Angel Seats in ’98

Angel season-ticket holders who paid $14.50 a game for their seats behind home plate last season will have to pay about $34.50 for seats in a similar location for the 1998 season as part of a new premium-seating plan announced by club officials Friday.

Next season, there will be limited seating on the field level behind home plate, and no seating in the outfield pavilions or on most of the luxury-suite concourse level because of the ongoing $100-million renovation of Anaheim Stadium.

The 1,300 new Diamond Club seats behind home plate will cost $2,865 for 83 home games, including the Freeway Series, and include in-seat waiter/waitress service, access to a private restaurant and lounge in the same area, a media guide, one program for every two seats, a quarterly newsletter, a 10% discount on merchandise and the option to purchase preferred valet parking and playoff tickets.

The 1,600 seats within the bases on the new Club Concourse level will cost $1,875 and include access to a private restaurant/lounge in the right-field corner (instead of the Diamond Club) and include the same amenities and options. That averages to $22.60 a game. About 1,900 seats on the Club Concourse outside the bases will offer the same package at $1,550, an average of $18.67 a game. Most tickets in those areas last season sold for $9-$11.

Season-ticket holders who were seated in areas that will become Diamond Club and Club Concourse seats in 1998--not quite 11% of the stadium’s total capacity of 45,000 after remodeling--will receive letters explaining the new season-ticket packages. They will be offered the first opportunity to purchase seats for 1998 and have until Jan. 31 to reserve them with a nonrefundable $50 deposit.