Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal FC, has agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno, adding Major League Baseball to his sports empire. The transaction, valued at a record $4 billion for an MLB team, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, pending regulatory review and league approval. The deal marks the end of Moreno’s 23-year tenure as the Angels’ owner and the first MLB team in Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s portfolio.
Immediate Impact on the Angels
The Angels’ franchise faces significant changes under new ownership. The team’s general manager and manager both have contracts expiring this year, and only Mike Trout and Yusei Kikuchi are currently under contract for 2025. The Angels’ lease on their stadium expires in six years, and the franchise has not won a playoff game in over a decade. Kroenke’s organization, valued at over $26 billion, now owns teams across six leagues and two continents, including the Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Arsenal FC, and Colorado Rapids.
Reactions and Statements
Moreno, MLB’s first Latino owner, released a statement calling the transaction a positive step for the franchise. “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,” he said. Kroenke echoed this sentiment in his own statement, calling the Angels “a storied franchise anchored in a great market.”
Kroenke’s Sports Empire Expands
Kroenke’s acquisition of the Angels completes his ownership of teams in every major North American professional sport. His holdings also include SoFi Stadium and the 300-acre Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, a project that has become a major sports and entertainment hub. The Angels’ addition extends Kroenke’s influence into Orange County, creating a year-round presence in Southern California’s sports landscape.
Timeline and Next Steps
The sale is subject to Major League Baseball approval, with the expectation it will close in early 2027. The transaction was first reported by the Los Angeles Times and later confirmed by CNBC and the Daily Mail. The price of the purchase was not disclosed, though sources familiar with the deal indicated it exceeded the $3.9 billion sale of the San Diego Padres. Forbes had valued the Angels at $2.8 billion in March 2024.