On the morning of Sept. 1, Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, announced his purchase of the Los Angeles Angels.
The sale takes effect early next year, marking the end of Arte Moreno’s 23-year tenure as the organization’s majority owner and prompting fans to reflect on his legacy and the team’s future.
Moreno’s tenure was marked by early relative success, with the team making the postseason five times in their first seven seasons under his ownership. However, the franchise hasn’t been able to maintain that success, posting losing records in their last 10 seasons.
Liberal studies major, Cristian Zelaya, expressed his disappointment in the team’s performance in recent years.
“It’s been pretty tragic how the Angels have been,” Zelaya said. “They used to be a good team, now they’re not even making the postseason.”
Fan disappointment reached a boiling point in May of this year, culminating in a protest at the stadium’s entrance and “sell the team” chants filling the park during games.
The purchase was made at a valuation of four billion dollars, making it the most lucrative team sale in Major League Baseball history and narrowly beating out the $3.9 billion sale of the San Diego Padres earlier this year. This acquisition would sit alongside several other notable teams controlled by Kroenke’s holding company, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), including Arsenal F.C., the Denver Nuggets, and the Los Angeles Rams.
Under Kroenke’s ownership, the Rams have found success both on the field and financially since returning to Los Angeles in 2016. They have appeared in two Super Bowls, winning one in 2022, in part due to an aggressive roster-building strategy, and have become the NFL’s second most valuable franchise. Heading into next season, the team is seen as a favorite to win the Super Bowl, due to yet another highly competitive roster-building strategy.
Under Kroenke’s leadership, the Rams approach has been defined by a willingness to pursue aggressive moves in pursuit of a championship roster, often with blockbuster trades to bring established talent to the team. One major example coming this offseason with their acquisition of star defensive end Myles Garret.
To some Angels fans, the new ownership experience and willingness to aggressively invest into their teams, offers hope that a similar level of success and achievement could be brought to the franchise. Enrique Garcia, a CSUN student who follows baseball, pointed to Kroenke’s track record with the Rams as a reason the new ownership could be significant for the Angels
“The Rams have been one of the better NFL teams,” said Garcia. “They have that experience.”
The deal would make Kroenke the wealthiest owner in Major League Baseball. While his wealth doesn’t guarantee success, he brings a history of ownership across multiple professional sports to the organization; whether that experience will translate to the Angels remains to be seen.
