Metallica, the iconic heavy metal band from California, is in the midst of a 24-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. Recently, during their performance of “Wherever I May Roam,” they paid tribute to Angel Stadium, showcasing “The Big A” on the massive video screen.
The visual was quite striking, considering Angel Stadium is over 250 miles away from Las Vegas. The screen depicted a train traveling through Anaheim, neatly passing beneath “The Big A,” with the stadium clearly visible on the left side.
Right above the stadium’s name, a bold billboard featuring Metallica was prominently displayed, instantly catching the eye.
It’s a bit puzzling why Metallica chose to highlight Angel Stadium in this way, especially given its roots in Oakland and the fact that the band has never performed there. They did play in smaller venues around Anaheim back in 1982, but that’s a different story.
Nonetheless, Metallica seems to hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans, especially over the past two decades.
In fact, from the early 2000s, you could often hear “Enter Sandman” blasting during the Angels’ pregame introductions. It was a moment of anticipation, right after “Calling All Angels” by Train and followed by “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum.
However, around the mid-2010s, “Enter Sandman” disappeared from the lineup, although the other two songs remain staples of the pregame show.
The Angels are currently undergoing significant changes, as former owner Arte Moreno sold a majority stake to Stan Kroenke and his group, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, for a staggering $4 billion last month. Moreno’s 23-year ownership had its ups and downs, with the first half marked by success, while the latter half saw challenges.
Right now, the Angels are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in baseball, missing the postseason for the twelfth consecutive year and finishing under .500 for the same number of seasons. This situation led to fans frequently shouting “Sell the team” during games last season, which, in a way, led to the change in ownership.
Although the sale is not set to be finalized until the end of the first quarter next year, it will be interesting to see if Kroenke’s team can turn things around for the Angels. Maybe finding a way to incorporate Metallica into the mix could be a good move.
