Metallica Honors Angel Stadium During Las Vegas Sphere Residency
The Oakland-rooted band featured the iconic Los Angeles stadium on its massive video screen during a performance of 'Wherever I May Roam.'
During its 24-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, the band Metallica paid a special tribute to Angel Stadium, the home of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels. The tribute occurred during the band's performance of their song "Wherever I May Roam," when the iconic "Big A" landmark of Angel Stadium was prominently displayed on the Sphere's expansive video screen.
The visual featured a train passing beneath "The Big A" with the stadium itself appearing on the left side of the screen, a scene set over 250 miles away from its actual location in Anaheim. Above the stadium's name on the landmark graphic, a bold Metallica billboard was also visible.
It remains unclear why Metallica, which originated in Oakland, California, chose to highlight Angel Stadium. The band has no history of performing at the stadium, though they played in smaller venues near Anaheim in 1982. Despite this, Metallica's music has had a long-standing connection with Angels fans. For much of the 2000s, the band's song "Enter Sandman" was a staple during the team's pregame introductions.
While "Enter Sandman" was eventually removed from the pregame lineup in the mid-2010s, other songs like "Calling All Angels" by Train and "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum continue to be played. This musical connection comes as the Los Angeles Angels franchise is undergoing a significant transition. Longtime owner Arte Moreno recently sold a majority stake to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, led by Rams owner Stan Kroenke, for a reported $4 billion.
Moreno's 23-year ownership tenure was marked by initial success followed by a prolonged period without postseason appearances. The Angels are currently on the longest active playoff drought in baseball, having missed the postseason for 12 consecutive seasons and finishing below .500 for 11 straight years. The team's lack of on-field success led to frequent fan chants of "Sell the team." The new ownership group is expected to finalize its acquisition by the end of the first quarter of next year and will face the challenge of revitalizing the franchise.