This Brawl at Baseball Game Is OK

Can the Angels attract Latino baseball fans by placing a boxing ring atop home plate? They’ll find out July 18, when six boxing matches will precede a game against the San Diego Padres.

The club hopes the event can duplicate the success of an April exhibition game, between the Angels and Aguascalientes of the Mexican League, that drew 24,954 to Edison Field. The Angels sold more day-of-game tickets for that game than for the previous night’s exhibition game against the Dodgers, according to Ron Minegar, vice president of sales and marketing.

The Angels believe major events, like the Aguascalientes game and the boxing matches, can attract Latinos to Edison Field and can interest them in returning for ballgames. The club has provided 500 discount tickets for the July 18 game to each of several Latino groups, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County and the National Latino Peace Officers Assn. The groups plan to raise money by selling the tickets at face value and applying the difference to scholarships and youth sports.

The Angels’ Spanish broadcast outlets, XPRS (1090) and KVEA (Channel 52), plan to advertise the event heavily, Minegar said. “We’re trying to drive some short-term interest in the Angels and Edison Field,” Minegar said. “We’re trying to develop a strong relationship with a lot of people in the Hispanic community too.”

The boxing matches start at 2 p.m., with the Angel-Padre game at 5. A regular game ticket includes admission to the boxing event. The card has yet to be announced.