Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has reached an agreement to acquire the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno. The purchase will mark a major expansion for the company, which already controls teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and Premier League. Stan Kroenke’s company is expected to finalize the deal by early 2027, according to reports from the Associated Press. Major League Baseball must approve any sale of the team, but no official statement has been issued yet.
Moreno purchased the franchise from the Walt Disney Company in 2003 after owning it for more than two decades, according to newser.com. The Angels had a strong run during the 2000s, winning five AL West titles in six seasons and reaching the World Series in 2002. Since that peak, the team has struggled, entering their 11th consecutive losing season and 12th straight non-playoff campaign.
Mike Trout, who was part of the team for six seasons with Shohei Ohtani, never made the playoffs during his time with the Angels. Trout missed significant games due to injuries in 2021 and 2023, but even with full availability, the team’s performance remained poor, according to a report from USA Today.
Moreno’s ownership has been criticized for mismanaging payroll and not making key trades that could have improved the roster. The club overpaid for Anthony Rendon in 2020, signing him to a seven-year, $245 million contract that did not deliver results. Critics have pointed out that Moreno failed to trade Trout when the team could have rebuilt with younger talent.
Moreno has been described by fans as one of the worst owners in MLB history due to his lack of success and poor decisions. The Angels were originally founded in 1961 by Hollywood star Gene Autry. Autry’s widow, Jackie, briefly owned the team after his death before selling it to Disney in 1999.
Moreno paid $184 million for the Angels when he purchased them from Disney. The sale is valued at a record price of $4 billion, signaling a major shift in the team’s future, Yahoo Sports reported.
Kroenke’s teams have consistently performed well across all sports, with recent championships in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and Premier League. The new ownership will bring a fresh approach to rebuilding the Angels, especially after years of underperformance under Moreno. Kroenke’s team has also been praised for investing in better infrastructure and support staff compared to what the Angels had under Moreno.
The move represents a major change in the landscape of Los Angeles baseball, as Kroenke adds one more franchise to his growing sports empire.
IMAGE: Jerry Reuss – Anaheim Stadium 3 (6-12-91) CC BY-SA 2.0