The Angels opted out of their lease with the city of Anaheim on Tuesday, setting the stage for another round of negotiations over whether the team remains in their longtime host city or finds a new home elsewhere in Southern California.
Angel Stadium, which opened in 1966, is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the major leagues, behind Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium.
"As we look to the future, we need the ability to continue to deliver a high-quality fan experience beyond what the original lease allows," Angels President John Carpino said in a statement. "It is important that we look at all our options and how we can best serve our fans now and in the future."
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, who led the drive against a tentative 2013 agreement between the city and the team for an Angel Stadium renovation, is in his final term. Voters in Anaheim will elect a new mayor and three new council members next month.
Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said the decision to opt out was not meant to influence voters. She said the lease required the team to opt out no later than Tuesday or wait until 2028 for another chance to do so.
"It's today, or 10 years from now," Garvey said. "There's no option in between."
Garvey would not say whether remaining in Anaheim was the Angels' first choice.
"We'll sit down with the new mayor and city council," she said. "We also are going to look at all our options."
The Angels ended negotiations with Anaheim in 2014. They explored options for new ballparks in Los Angeles, Carson and Irvine, but prioritized Tustin, Calif., because of its proximity to the current stadium and fan base.
The sides are believed to have focused on a stadium that would have seated about 37,000 and cost about $700 million. Tustin officials have said they will not provide taxpayer funding for stadium construction.
Garvey said the Angels understand they are unlikely to find a city in Southern California willing to pay for a new ballpark.
"We understand the realities of California," she said. "There is a significant investment involved either way."
