The MLB’s Los Angeles Angels have been sold to Stan Kroenke to become the seventh sports team under the US billionaire’s control.
Stan Kroenke has acquired the MLB’s Los Angeles Angels for $4bn after a takeover was announced on 1 September.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) will acquire Arte Moreno’s controlling stake in the Angels for a record fee paid for an MLB franchise. Moreno will retain a minority stake in the baseball franchise.
The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2027 and is subject to approval of MLB owners. It is unknown if the conditions of other unnamed franchise minority investors equity stakes has changed.
In a post via X, Kroenke stated: “The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organisation.”
Kroenke’s sports empire grows
Under KSE, the acquisition of the baseball team became the seventh sports team owned by Kroenke.
Kroenke is the controlling owner of the 2022 Super Bowl winners the Los Angeles Rams, as well as the 2025/26 Premier League champions Arsenal F.C.
KSE is the controlling owner of the 2023 NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets. This is registered under Ann Walton Kroenke serving as the controlling owner as the NBA and NFL prohibits the same individual to serve as the controlling owner of a NBA and NFL franchise.
The Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS), and Colorado Mammoth (National Lacrosse League), are also 100% owned by KSE.
The recent championship success at Arsenal, the Nuggets and the Rams suggests KSE will look to build a championship-winning organisation in Southern California.
Current Angels Interim General Manager, John Mozeliak, stepped in to succeed Perry Minasian in June 2026 after an 11th consecutive losing season. Mozeliak recently announced the promotions of Matt Swanson and Michael Lord as Assistant General Managers.
Furthermore, the Angels front office fired three area scouts and three crosscheckers and opted not to renew the contract of former Interim General Manager, Ray Montgomery.
It is also unclear what position Kroenke and KSE may take regarding proposals to introduce the MLB’s first-ever salary cap as part of the upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA). KSE works with a salary cap in the NFL (Rams), NBA (Nuggets), and the NHL (Avalanche).
Why was it time for the Angels to be sold?
The Angels are currently set to miss out on a 12th consecutive postseason as it is currently 53-86 in the American League.
Despite once having two of the league’s best players on its roster at the same time, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angels’ failure to reach the playoffs during the duo’s time led to Ohtani signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 for a record 10-year, $700m contract.
Moreno put the Angels up for sale in August 2022 after nearly 20 years of ownership since first buying the club in 2003 from the Walt Disney Company for over $180m.
Despite receiving bids from prospective buyers, with reports revealing some bids were upwards of $2.5bn, Moreno cancelled the sale in January 2023 as he believed he had “unfinished business”.
However, after another losing season and Ohtani signing with the Dodgers, this led to fan protests for Moreno to sell the team as they appeared not satisfied with the direction of the Angels under his ownership.
After the announcement of KSE’s successful $4bn buyout of his controlling stake in the Angels, Moreno stated KSE is “the best next owner for the franchise”.
“The Moreno Family has been honoured 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,” said Moreno.
“The Angels organisation looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.”
