Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Long Beach Arena
Long Beach city officials have discussed demolishing the Long Beach Arena, a decades-old mainstay, as they negotiate with the Los Angeles Angels over its future stadium. The Los Angeles Times first reported the discussions.
The city has already offered the team a 13-acre parking lot next to the Long Beach Arena. Last month, the city agreed to negotiate for a larger parcel that includes the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, which comprises the arena, a performing arts center, and an adjacent green belt along the city’s waterfront.
But the 572,000-square-foot Long Beach Arena is at the centerpiece of the complex. It was built in 1962 and has hosted a myriad of sporting events and concerts over the years, including events during the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 1980, it hosted the Eagles’ last and very testy concert before their first breakup.
The arena is also scheduled to host events for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Negotiations between the Angels and Long Beach are still at the initial stages, according to the Times report. The city hasn’t conducted an appraisal of the property or an environmental impact report.
The city of Anaheim extended the Angels’ lease at Angels Stadium through 2020, and has put negotiations on ice until an appraisal of the 53-year-old stadium is completed. [LAT] — Dennis Lynch