The city of Angels, oh wait, more like the city of Anaheim. By far one of the best cities in terms of players, but an absolute wasteland for teams.
Players like Ryan Getzlaf, Kevin Shattenkirk, Shohei Ohtani, and now Noah Syndergaard are stars within the media, but I’m 99% sure only half of them would be recognized in public.
In fact, half of Orange County wouldn’t even know that Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf earned his 1,000th point during their game against the Washington Capitals, making him the first Duck to do so and marking the franchise’s 1,000th win.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (the strangest team name in all of sports besides the Seattle Kraken) and the Anaheim Ducks are ultimately trapped. Although it remains in a semi- accessible area for all Orange County fans, it is ultimately a deterrent to the growth of the two teams.
It’s easy to see when the formerly known “Anaheim Angels” transformed into the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in order to appeal to the larger audience within the city of Los Angeles. The same goes for the Anaheim Ducks, although no name change appears in sight, the only marketable value for players is the ability to live and commute from Newport Beach. Granted, the sunny, 70 degree California weather during the winter season is a plus over living in say, Minnesota but the fanbase is lacking.
California is notably a football and basketball state, with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, etc, but there’s a foundation for it to become a hockey state too. Hockey culture isn’t as strong as it is in the Northeast and East coast, but it should be. With teams like the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and the Anaheim Ducks, hockey rinks should be packed like the Leafs and Bruins on any given day. Especially the Ducks given that they’re near the top of the Pacific division and have ten wins under their belt already.
Of course, any major moves for these teams would be in years to come and would require heavy negotiations, but of all the places in Orange County, Anaheim is the worst possible city to be in.
As central as it may seem on the map, for many in south Orange County, it averages a forty minute drive, this in conjunction with heavy traffic, and a higher crime rate, it’s no wonder many fans don’t make the drive. Choosing to stay at home and watch the Ducks from the comfort of their couch grants a larger appeal.
For more visit Talking Points Sports.
