Stan Kroenke’s sports empire has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels baseball club from the Moreno family, according to an official announcement by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and the team. The transaction carries an MLB-record $4-billion valuation, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times citing a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to discuss it publicly. The sale marks the end of Arte Moreno’s 23-year tenure as owner of the franchise.
A Landmark $4-Billion Valuation and Record Sale
The reported $4-billion valuation surpasses the previous Major League Baseball record set just last month during the $3.9-billion sale of the San Diego Padres, according to the Los Angeles Times. Forbes had previously valued the Angels at $2.8 billion in March. The agreement was announced on Tuesday, though the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review by Major League Baseball. Officials from both parties expect the deal to officially close during the first quarter of 2027.
https://x.com/Angels/status/2094858443966603635
“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market,” Stan Kroenke said in an official statement. “We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”
Expanding a Vast Sports and Entertainment Portfolio
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment already controls a wide-ranging portfolio of professional sports teams across North America and Europe. KSE is the parent company of the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and the Colorado Rapids of MLS, alongside English Premier League club Arsenal. The addition of the Angels brings Major League Baseball into a holding that already spans six leagues and two continents.
The acquisition also extends KSE’s physical and economic footprint in Southern California. Companies tied to Kroenke previously built SoFi Stadium and the 300-acre Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, which serves as a major sports and entertainment hub for Los Angeles County and is scheduled to host events for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. By adding the Angels, KSE gains a year-round presence on the regional sports calendar, pushing its operations south into Orange County’s market of more than 3 million people.
The End of Arte Moreno’s 23-Year Ownership
Arte Moreno purchased the franchise in 2003 following the team’s only World Series championship in 2002. His tenure began with significant on-field success, highlighted by five American League West titles and two AL Championship Series appearances between 2004 and 2009. During his administration, the club featured several of the sport’s biggest individual talents, including three-time AL Most Valuable Player Mike Trout and two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
However, the latter half of Moreno’s ownership faced severe challenges. Despite fielding elite talent, the franchise failed to win a playoff game and endured losing seasons from 2016 through 2026, compiling baseball’s longest playoff drought at 11 seasons. Moreno briefly explored selling the team in August 2022 before pulling it off the market five months later. In recent seasons, fan frustration grew visible at Angel Stadium amid last-place division finishes.
“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.”
What Comes Next for the Angels
With the definitive agreement signed, the transaction now moves through the formal MLB ownership review process. League owners and the commissioner’s office must evaluate and approve the transfer of control before the deal can be finalized in early 2027.
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