'Shocking' Rats Infest Concession Stands at MLB Stadium! U.S. Authorities Order Partial Closure of LAA Home Field

*This content was translated by AI.

Angel Stadium, the home field of the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball, is suffering from an untimely "rat incident." Following the team's poor performance, which includes failing to reach the postseason for 11 consecutive seasons, the stadium's hygiene conditions have also come under scrutiny, drawing a flood of criticism from fans.

According to a food facility inspection report released by the Orange County Health Department on the 28th (Korean time), as exposed by the California Post and other outlets including the New York Post, a concession stand located inside Angel Stadium was ordered to close immediately on April 22 due to unsanitary conditions.

According to the report, the scene when health authorities conducted a surprise inspection was extremely shocking. Inspectors found rat droppings at five locations inside the concession stand. Traces of rodents were found everywhere, from around the cleaning supply storage area to next to the disposable cup boxes provided to spectators and near the water heaters. In particular, holes larger than 0.6 cm were left open on the ceiling, allowing rats to enter and exit freely, exposing the neglectful management.

The even bigger problem is that on the very day the hygiene inspection took place, approximately 25,000 spectators had gathered at the stadium. Fans were left exposed to unsanitary blind spots without any protection. The health authorities immediately suspended the concession stand's operating license and ordered a comprehensive rat eradication through professional pest control, a full disinfection of cooking equipment and facilities, and construction to block entry routes.

The Los Angeles Angels organization immediately launched damage control. In a statement sent to the New York Post, the team said, "We consider providing a clean environment for our fans as our top priority," and explained, "We have completed immediate corrective measures in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines and will resume normal operations after passing a re-inspection before the next home game schedule."

However, local public opinion remains cold. According to the New York Post, Angel Stadium had previously faced significant trouble in 2007 when more than 100 hygiene violations were discovered. Although the team promised a massive improvement in hygiene policies at that time, this incident has sparked criticism that "the management system has regressed to the past."

The Angels are well known as the team where "superstar" Shohei Ohtani (32, Los Angeles Dodgers) played from the 2018 season through the 2023 season. However, since the 2014 season, the team has become synonymous with poor performance, having failed to reach the postseason for 11 consecutive seasons. With the added burden of the home stadium hygiene controversy, the team is now facing fierce public criticism.

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*This content was translated by AI.