Dust, Hopes Raised at Stadium

For many fans, the Angels season opener Wednesday night began in a sandstorm.

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time: Fly a helicopter low over Anaheim Stadium and drop the ball for the first pitch.

Unfortunately, many of the 30,874 fans at the remodeled stadium didn’t see the stunt, having been sandblasted by dirt kicked up by the chopper.

“We were in the fourth row and all we got was a mouthful of dirt,” said Fred Viele of Buena Park. “I guess it was an experience, but I sure didn’t like it.”

But Angel fans have had to endure plenty through the years. In the last week alone, they got their first look at the stadium’s $100-million renovation, a work in progress, and at some 30,000 missing seats, and saw Jim Abbott, one of the most popular players in team history, released.

When the dust clears, what the fans really want to see is a winner.

“The pitching staff is a shambles right now,” said Bernie Spiro of Irvine. “They have been saying wait until next year to see what the stadium is going to look like. I’m sure it’s going to be nice. But if they don’t field a competitive team, they are going to see the attendance disappear, just like last year.”

Anaheim Sports Inc., formerly Disney Sports Enterprises, is trying to rebuild not only the stadium but the team. And the fans Wednesday night wished them well on both counts.

“The team has to be better than last year,” said Don Hansen of San Clemente, a season ticket holder for 27 years. But I think it’s going to be at least two years before we see any real improvement.”

And the stadium?

“I wish they would bring the Big A back inside,” said Costa Mesa resident Billye Snyder, a season ticket holder since 1961. “That’s what made this place the Big A. It gave it an identity.”

Many fans said the most noticeable difference was in the outfield, where most of the seats were torn out during the winter. The club level on the first-base side will be closed through the season.

The work has made it necessary to shuffle around season ticket holders. Some--at their request--more than once. Don and Ann Hansen were moved from seats next to Gene Autry’s box--where they would wave to the Angels’ original owner--to the terrace level, where they discovered their vision was blocked Saturday night during the Freeway Series against the Dodgers.

“All we could see of the fireworks was smoke,” Don Hansen said. “We talked to their ticket people that night and they were very nice about it.”

Said Ross Kuster of Newport Beach, “Disney listens and learns.”

Which is why, unlike last season, there are no cheerleaders between innings.

“I like it better this year because they aren’t running a bunch of girls up there,” said Snyder, who said she was between 65 and 70 years old. “Now, if they were running some men up there in shorts, I might have liked it.”

* ANGELS BLOW LEAD: Boston scored four runs in the ninth inning to hand the Angels a 6-5 opening-day loss. C1