Baseball Game No Longer the Only One in Town

Disney unveils its newest attraction tonight, a baseball-themed carnival midway at Edison Field.

Fans will find a host of games along the concourse behind the right field stands, from the modern (virtual reality batting cages) to the quaint (ring toss, with Angel halos). Video games and a fantasy play-by-play booth will be available free, with a fee of up to $4 for the other activities. The area will open two hours before games and remain open throughout the game.

In its $117-million stadium renovation project, Disney designed an outfield seating area with particular appeal to families and children. In addition to the game area, the outfield includes a barbecue pit, picnic tables, kids’ retail store and concession stand featuring items like chicken strips and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches.

“We think we’ve made the outfield a fun place to be,” said Kevin Uhlich, the Angels’ director of stadium operations.

While Disney may make more money on the outfield attractions, is the baseball so tedious that the company believes it must offer children alternatives to watching the game?

“Kids, especially smaller kids, may get a little bored when the game stretches out to 3 or 3 1/2 hours,” Uhlich said. “Sometimes it’s nice to get up and stretch, and this offers fans something else to do.”

The Orange County Sports Hall of Fame, located around a corner from the game area, is tentatively scheduled to reopen this month, Uhlich said. The target date, July 15, is the Angels’ first home game after the All-Star break.