The MSRC funding award supported the Angeles Express MetroLink service for 43 regular season Angels weekday home games that began on April 21, 2011 and ended on September 27, 2011. The service offered the public a convenient and attractive alternative to the automobile for travel to and from home games at the Angels Stadium of Anaheim. The service dedicated two MetroLink trains for operation along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo corridor, originating from Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo in the south and from Los Angeles Union Station in the North, terminating at Anaheim Stadium.
$651,807
Passengers were able to board either MetroLink train at any of 12 MetroLink stations along the two routes and travel directly to Angels Stadium. On time performance was excellent with the trains arriving at the stadium in time for the games that began at 7:05 pm. At the conclusion of the game, both trains held for passengers before departing, even in the case of extra innings. To maximize ridership, OCTA, MetroLink, and the Angels worked in partnership to promote the service and provide special incentives. These efforts included a discounted $7.00 round trip fare for adults with additional discounts for seniors, the disabled, and children. Over 2,000 promotional vouchers were provided by the Angels for free admission to selected weekday home games. In addition, and aggressive joint marketing campaign targeted both current OCTA customers as well as those who were not current or frequent transit users.
The campaign generated over 120 million impressions which included promotions in newspapers, direct mailings, radio, websites, and other electronic media.
The purpose of this project was to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in and around Angels Stadium of Anaheim by offering convenient MetroLink rail service to and from the stadium on game days.
The Angels Express service proved a success with over 20,600 boardings over a period beginning in April 2011 and ending with the last Angeles weekday home game in September 2011. The majority of the passenger ridership utilized the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo to Anaheim service. Over half of the Angels Express patrons had never utilized MetroLink. Coupled with a 99% user recommendation rating, the service proved valuable in introducing new riders to rail as an attractive alternative to automobile travel.
A comparison between ridership for 2010 and 2011 along the Orange County Line identifies an overall increase of 10 percent. During the Angels games, ridership increased by over 13 percent. When compared to other lines, such as the Inland Empire/Orange County line which showed a 1 percent ridership decrease over the same period, the increase in Orange County Line ridership is due in large part to the success of the Angeles Express.
Over 20,600 baseball fans utilized the Angels Express MetroLink service. The average use for a weekday game was 421 patrons; Friday games had an average Angels Express ridership of 517 patrons.
Angels Stadium of Anaheim