Stan Kroenke Buys LA Angels from Arte Moreno as Arsenal and Los Angeles Rams Owner Expands His Sporting Empire with Baseball Purchase

Billionaire Stan Kroenke added another major professional sports team to his portfolio on Tuesday after reaching a deal to buy the Los Angeles Angels. Kroenke, who already owns Premier League club Arsenal and the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, has now expanded his sports empire into Major League Baseball by acquiring the Angels from Arte Moreno.

“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.” The purchase price was not revealed, bringing an end to Arte Moreno’s troubled tenure as the Angels’ owner. Moreno will now be a relived man after the deal.

Bouquet Gets Bigger

The 80-year-old, who became MLB’s first Latino owner, faced growing pressure from fans in recent years to sell the team. Moreno’s tenure began with the most successful decade in Angels history. From 2004 to 2009, the team won five American League West titles and made two appearances in the AL Championship Series.

However, the Angels’ fortunes changed dramatically in the years that followed. The franchise endured a prolonged stretch of disappointing results, failing to make a meaningful postseason run and going through a series of losing seasons. The team’s struggles became a growing source of frustration among fans, who increasingly called for Moreno to sell the franchise.

“The Angels organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment,” Moreno said in a statement.

“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.”

No More Tension

The ownership change comes after Moreno had previously considered selling the team. In August 2022, he formally began exploring a potential sale, attracting interest from several prospective buyers.

However, just five months later, he unexpectedly ended the process and decided to remain in control, saying at the time that he felt the family had “unfinished business” with the franchise.

For Kroenke, the Angels represent the latest addition to an already extensive sports empire. He had also pursued the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, but ultimately lost the bidding to a group led by Magic Johnson.