Rodent Infestation Gives Angels Fans Another Reason To Avoid Stadium

Disclaimer: This article is based on actual news from the real world – honestly! However, it has been sprinkled with a healthy dose of satire.

It’s tough being a Los Angeles Angels fan. They’re off to a pretty bad start at 12-20, and have lost nine of their last ten games. And while they’re hovering around the basement in the MLB standings, that means that it’s a perfect time to take in a game! Seats are likely cheap and plentiful at this point of the season. Nothing beats a baseball game where you can sit back, have a refreshing beverage, and chow down on some of the best food the concession stands have to offer. Unfortunately, Angels attendees can’t even do that, as one of the stands at Angel Stadium has been shut down following a rodent infestation.

If we’re going to look at this in a glass-half-full kind of way, it’s only one section of the stadium that’s off limits – section 432. However, from a half-glass-empty-and-the-other-half-is-full-of-rodent-droppings perspective, it’s highly doubtful that the mice and/or rats they found evidence of are only focusing on one concession stand and not scoping out the whole stadium. Orange County Public Health Services found rodent droppings in five different locations of the concession stand, suggesting that even the rats are disgusted with the way the Angels have been playing. Much like the umpires, OCPHS cried foul and suspended the stand’s permit to operate. 

For their part, the Angels have said that they’re working on dealing with the issue, and the concession stand will be open by this weekend’s home stand. Most Angels fans, who might be avoiding the stadium for baseball reasons, will likely be avoiding the concession stand in section 432 for non-baseball reasons even if they do attend. At least that section will undoubtedly temporarily be the cleanest concession stand in the stadium, at least until the vermin realize it’s open again. 

“The Angels take great pride in delivering a high-quality fan experience at Angel Stadium, including maintaining the cleanliness of our nearly 160 concession locations,” the Angels stated. “After receiving guidance from the health department, we acted promptly with our concession partner to resolve the issues at the single stand and expect it to pass inspection and reopen in time for the upcoming homestand.” 

Some of the precautions they’re taking to keep this from happening again, according to someone who knows someone who used to work there, include putting up small signs at the base of the concession stand saying “no mice allowed,” as well as introducing the team’s new mascot, a cat. Also, they’ve announced Friday, May 1st as “free mousetrap day,” in which the first 10,000 attendees to the game get a free mousetrap to leave at section 432.