Other prominent leaders have also expressed concern over a proposed name change. Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig saying that the Angels "should be proud to carry the name Anaheim." The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce added in another letter that they hope the Commissioner "will reconsider (his) decision to allow the Anaheim Angels' ownership to change the team's name." The Los Angeles Business Council in a letter to L.A. City Council president Alex Padilla supporting the City Council resolution stated that the "LABC wholly supports the City of Anaheim's opposition to the Angels' attempt to change the name...(and) recognizes that a name change would result in a negative manner toward the City and its affiliates."

Fans continue to be overwhelmingly opposed to a possible name change as well. Local sports talk radio shows and newspapers have been flooded with numerous calls and letters asking the Anaheim Angels management to reconsider its proposed name change and abide by the terms of their 33-year lease agreement with Anaheim for use of the City-owned Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

The contract between the Anaheim Angels and the City of Angels clearly states that "Tenant will change the name of the Team to include the name 'Anaheim' therein, such change to be effective no later than the commencement of the 1997 season."

In order to assist Anaheim Angel fans everywhere, the City of Anaheim has created a website and e-mail address to allow people to voice their opinions about the proposed name change. The website is www.savetheanaheimangels.com and the e-mail address is savetheanaheimangels@anaheim.net.

Letters that were sent to the Anaheim Angels and Major League Baseball asking for their clarification on whether the proposed name change has been provisionally approved and seeking assurances that the name would not be changed have not been answered.

The Anaheim Angels and the City of Anaheim's 33-year lease agreement for Angel Stadium of Anaheim lasts until 2029. There is a one-time out clause that can be exercised before the 2017 season if the Angels are willing to pay a substantial penalty to the City.

In 2002, the Anaheim Angels won their first, and to date, only MLB World Series championship, wearing "Anaheim" jerseys in ballparks across the nation, including playoff successes in New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco.

In 2004, as the Anaheim Angels, the team out-drew all but two Major League Baseball franchises this season, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Anaheim Angels set an all-time (43 year) regular season attendance record with 3,375,677 people and helped MLB set an all-time attendance record as well.

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ABOUT ANAHEIM - The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is California's 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 3,200 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.4 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, and the 2008 Olympic Silver Medal winning U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.