09/01/26 02:33:00
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09/01 14:32 CDT MLB's Los Angeles Angels to be sold to Rams and Arsenal owner
Stan Kroenke
MLB's Los Angeles Angels to be sold to Rams and Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) --- Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has reached a deal to
purchase controlling ownership of the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno.
The company led by Stan Kroenke made the surprising announcement Tuesday,
saying it expects to close the transaction in early 2027. Major League
Baseball, which must approve any sale, didn't immediately comment on the news.
Kroenke's company owns the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, Premier League champion
Arsenal, the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, Major League
Soccer's Colorado Rapids and SoFi Stadium, along with the large Hollywood Park
campus around the multibillion-dollar Inglewood arena. The conglomerate has now
moved into baseball with the Angels, whose turbulent 23-year tenure under
Moreno's ownership will finally come to an end.
"The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market," Kroenke said
in a statement. "We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels
organization."
Moreno, an outdoor advertising magnate from Arizona, bought the Angels from the
Walt Disney Company in 2003. While the club had steady success in its first
years under Moreno with much of the roster that won the 2002 World Series,
winning five AL West titles in six seasons during the 2000s, the Halos have
entered a period of decline since their most recent playoff victory in 2009.
At 53-85, the AL-worst Angels are currently headed to their 11th consecutive
losing season and their 12th consecutive non-playoff season, both the longest
active streaks in the majors.
Incredibly, they've made the playoffs just once during the 16-year career of
three-time AL MVP outfielder Mike Trout, who teamed with two-time AL MVP Shohei
Ohtani for six straight seasons with no success.
A significant portion of the Angels' struggles can be attributed to the
80-year-old Moreno, who has repeatedly inserted himself into personnel
decisions while presiding over the rest of his organization with much less
interest or acumen.
While he spent aggressively on payroll in his attempts to build a winner, his
biggest moves usually backfired, with a series of high-profile acquisitions who
produced a fraction of their anticipated impact. His acquisitions of Anthony
Rendon, Gary Matthews Jr., Josh Hamilton and many others were expensive
disasters, while even his landmark $240 million free-agent contract for Albert
Pujols didn't result in the homers or the victories expected from the price tag.
Moreno has been roundly criticized for skimping on infrastructure, resources
and support staff throughout his organization compared to other MLB teams. The
Angels have also endured numerous troubles off the field during Moreno's
tenure, from the drug-related death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs to numerous smaller
scandals.
Despite Moreno's much-derided decision to change the franchise's name from the
Anaheim Angels in an attempt to build a more national brand, the team remained
a healthy box office draw to its loyal Orange County fans during most of his
tenure --- but the fan base had lost patience in recent years. Angel Stadium's
slightly smaller crowds this season have regularly chanted "Sell the team!" and
derided Moreno by name.
The lack of success clearly began to wear on Moreno, whose children reportedly
aren't interested in carrying on in the baseball business. Moreno publicly
explored a sale of the Angels in 2022, only to pull the team off the market in
early 2023.
Significant positive change occurred earlier this year when Moreno fired
general manager Perry Minasian and hired John Mozeliak on a temporary basis to
run his baseball operations. Mozeliak, the longtime Cardinals baseball boss,
has already made significant changes to reshape the long-stagnant operation
while starting a conventional rebuild of sorts after years of resistance from
Moreno.
"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," Moreno said in a statement. "The Angels organization looks forward
to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our
business partners."
Moreno, a Mexican-American, was the majors' first Latino majority owner, and he
remained the only one until Puerto Rico-born billionaire Jos E. Feliciano
closed his purchase of the San Diego Padres last month. Latino and Hispanic
players comprise roughly 30% of major league rosters.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment will be only the fourth permanent owner of the
Angels, who were founded as an AL expansion club in 1961 by early Hollywood
star Gene Autry. His widow, Jackie, temporarily owned the team for a year after
his death before selling it to Disney.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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