Anaheim vs. Angels is going to trial Nov. 7.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos set the date for a jury trial on Tuesday.
Anaheim had asked the court to start the trial in the middle of the Major League Basebal season in August. It’s bidding to reverse the Angels name change to the “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,” as well as get damages.
Angels Baseball LP wanted the trial date to begin in January.
“The judge split the difference,” said Anaheim spokesman John Nicoletti.
Nicoletti said the city is upbeat about its chances to reverse the name change.
“It took the Angels one press release to change the name,” he said. “They’ve been the Anaheim Angels a lot longer than they’ve been the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.”
The Angels, meanwhile, said they’re focused on the baseball season.
“Everything else is part of the process and is running its course,” said Angels spokesman Tim Mead. “We’re respectful of the legal process and we have a very capable legal team.”
Last week the city won a round in its legal battle after Polos rejected the Angels’ request to throw out the main counts in the city’s suit to block team owner Arte Moreno’s name change.
The city contends the lease at Angel Stadium of Anaheim requires the team to go by Anaheim Angels. Team owner Moreno added Los Angeles to the team’s name in January in a bid to identify with a larger market and boost broadcast revenue.
