Arte Moreno era officially over as Angels sell to Rams owner Stan Kroenke for $4B
Arte Moreno’s 23‑Year Run at the Angels Comes to an End as Billionaire Stan Kroenke Closes $4 Billion Deal
Los Angeles – After more than two decades of mixed results, the Arte Moreno era at the Los Angeles Angels officially concluded on Tuesday when billionaire Stan Kroenke’s Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) announced a $4 billion purchase of the franchise. The staggering price tag makes the Angels the most valuable MLB club ever sold, eclipsing the previous record set by the San Diego Padres’ $3.9 billion transaction and far surpassing the $2.4 billion price Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets.
Kroenke, who already owns the Super Bowl‑champion Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the Stanley Cup‑winning Avalanche, said in a statement that the Angels “are a storied franchise anchored in a great market” and that his organization looks forward to an “exciting future” with the team.
The transaction is slated to close in early 2027 pending MLB approval, marking the official end of Moreno’s stewardship. Moreno bought the club in 2003 for $184 million, shortly after the Angels won their only World Series title. In a brief release, the Moreno family said it has been “honored to steward the Angels for 23 years” and believes KSE is “the best next owner for the franchise.” The family added that the organization remains committed to fans, employees, players and business partners.
The change comes amid a prolonged period of on‑field struggle. The Angels have not appeared in the playoffs since 2014, a drought that is the longest active stretch without postseason play in baseball. During Moreno’s tenure, the team’s management made a series of high‑profile contracts that backfired, including deals for aging stars such as Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Anthony Rendon. The farm system also fell into disrepair, and front‑office turnover was frequent; most recently, general manager Perry Minasian was dismissed in June.
Perhaps the most glaring disappointment involved two marquee players. While the Angels built a roster around Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani during their prime years, the team failed to capitalize on that talent. Ohtani eventually moved across town and helped the Los Angeles Dodgers capture a World Series title, while Trout remained loyal to the franchise despite its struggles. The missed opportunities turned the Angels into a frequent subject of ridicule in baseball circles.
Moreno briefly put the team up for sale in 2023 but pulled the offer, citing “unfinished business.” Tuesday’s sale marks a definitive break from that unfinished chapter.
The news sparked an impromptu celebration outside Angel Stadium. Hours before the Angels’ scheduled game against the New York Yankees, a crowd of fans gathered to mark Arte’s departure, treating the moment like a victory rally and underscoring the deep attachment many supporters have to the franchise.
Fans have continued to fill the stadium throughout the turbulent years, a testament to the team’s enduring popularity despite on‑field disappointments. Their reaction to the change of ownership reflects both gratitude for Moreno’s long tenure and hope for a revitalized future under Kroenke’s championship‑oriented portfolio.
The $4 billion price also places the Angels in the upper echelon of professional sports transactions. The figure matches Mat Ishbia’s $4 billion acquisition of the Phoenix Suns and sits just below the Denver Broncos’ $4.65 billion sale and the Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion deal, underscoring the growing financial scale of franchise sales.
With the deal awaiting final approval, the Angels are poised to enter a new chapter. For now, the final inning of Arte Moreno’s ownership has closed, and the next act—under a billionaire whose brands have won championships across multiple leagues—begins.