Stan Kroenke Buys Angels for Record $4B, Ending Moreno’s 23-Year Tenure

Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, agreed to buy the Angels from Arte Moreno for $4 billion, the highest price ever paid for an MLB team. The deal, announced September 1, values the franchise and its regional sports network at $4 billion and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027 pending MLB approval. Moreno will remain a minority owner with an undisclosed stake after 23 years leading the club through early success and recent decline.

Why the Angels sale matters to Kroenke’s empire

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment now owns teams in six professional leagues across two continents. The company already controls the NFL’s Rams, NBA’s Nuggets, NHL’s Avalanche, MLS’s Colorado Rapids, and Premier League’s Arsenal. Adding the Angels gives KSE a year-round presence across Southern California and deepens its footprint in one of the world’s top sports markets. KSE was valued at more than $26 billion in June 2026.

The Angels’ decline under Moreno’s ownership

Moreno bought the Angels from Disney in 2003 and won six division titles between 2004 and 2014. The team reached 3 million in attendance every year from 2003 to 2019 and signed a 20-year, $3 billion TV deal with Fox Sports in 2011. But the Angels have made the playoffs only once since 2010, wasting the prime years of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. They clinched their 11th consecutive losing season with a 53-85 record, tied for worst in the American League.

Record price reflects heated sports market

The $4 billion valuation beats the previous MLB record of $3.9 billion set by the San Diego Padres in April 2026. The Los Angeles Lakers remain the most expensive North American sports franchise sale at $12 billion, purchased this month by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. The Seattle Seahawks sold for $9.6 billion in July. Forbes valued the Angels at $2.8 billion in March, showing how much the franchise value has climbed in six months.

What happens next for the Angels

The transaction requires MLB approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. Interim GM John Mozeliak said he was surprised by the news but called it exciting. His contract ends in December, and he has not decided whether to stay. Club president Molly Jolly and Mozeliak said operations will remain normal until the deal closes.

Final Thoughts

Kroenke’s $4 billion purchase marks the end of Moreno’s 23-year Angels tenure and adds baseball to one of sports’ largest empires. The deal reflects soaring valuations for premium franchises in major markets, with the Angels now commanding a price 43% higher than the Padres sale just five months earlier.

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