By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
It took some time, but Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno has agreed to sell the team to Stan Kroenke, who also presides over the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
Kroenke’s purchase will give him a controlling interest in the franchise through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the holding company that also owns the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer and Arsenal of the English Premier League.
According to a news release Tuesday, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, pending approval by Major League Baseball.
The Angels were sold for a valuation of $4 billion, according to sources cited by ESPN’s Buster Olney. That figure surpasses the previous MLB record of $3.9 billion, set by the San Diego Padres’ new ownership group earlier this year.
“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market,” Kroenke said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”
Moreno’s 23-Year Run
Moreno purchased the Angels from The Walt Disney Co. in 2003, shortly after the franchise won its first and only World Series championship. He immediately generated excitement around the team by bringing in players such as Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon, lowering beer prices and expanding the Angels’ national profile.
The franchise enjoyed considerable success during the early years of Moreno’s ownership. The Angels won the American League West five times in a six-year span from 2004 through 2009 and drew more than 3 million fans every season from 2003 through 2019.
In 2011, the Angels signed a 20-year, $3 billion television deal with Fox Sports, helping fuel the signing of high-profile free agents including Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson.
The team’s fortunes, however, changed dramatically.
The Angels have reached the playoffs only once since 2010, despite having two of baseball’s biggest stars in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani during that span. The franchise has now clinched its 11th consecutive losing season.
Moreno has faced criticism over the years for being too involved in baseball operations and for not investing enough in the resources needed to keep pace with other major-league organizations.
Signs of Change
Signs of change emerged in recent months when longtime St. Louis Cardinals baseball executive John Mozeliak was brought in as a consultant. Mozeliak was given significant freedom to trade controllable players and help reshape the Angels’ front office and coaching staff.
Still, “Sell the team” chants have remained a regular occurrence at Angel Stadium throughout the season.
Moreno said the decision to sell the club was made with the franchise’s future in mind.
“The Angels organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment,” Moreno said. “The Moreno family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise.
“The Angels organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.”
Kroenke’s Championship Track Record
Kroenke enters the Angels organization with an impressive recent track record across professional sports. Four teams owned by KSE have won championships in their respective sports over the last five years:
- Los Angeles Rams — NFL, 2022
- Colorado Avalanche — NHL, 2022
- Denver Nuggets — NBA, 2023
- Arsenal — Soccer, 2026
For Angels fans, the hope is that Kroenke’s history of championship success can help bring a new era to a franchise that has struggled for more than a decade.
The sale still requires MLB approval, but if completed as expected in early 2027, the Angels will enter a new chapter under one of the most prominent ownership groups in professional sports.