Angels owner Arte Moreno has agreed to sell his Major League Baseball team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, marking a significant shift for the Anaheim-based franchise. The announcement from Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) on Tuesday confirmed an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the baseball team from Moreno, with executives anticipating the deal to finalize in the first quarter of next year.
This development occurs more than four years after a corruption scandal embroiled Anaheim City Hall, leading to the collapse of a prior deal to sell Angel Stadium to Moreno and the ballclub.
Stan Kroenke, whose company KSE also owns the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rapids, and England's Arsenal professional soccer team, expressed optimism about the acquisition. In the Tuesday news release, Kroenke stated, “The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”
Arte Moreno, who has owned the Angels for 23 years, applauded the sale. Moreno stated in the news release that his family has been honored to steward the team and believes KSE’s experience and success make them the best next owner for the franchise. He added that the Angels organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to its fans, employees, players, and business partners.
While spokeswomen for both the Angels, Marie Garvey, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Joanna Hunter, declined to disclose the sale price, they referred reporters to the news release for details.
The announcement arrives as Anaheim residents are still awaiting information on the condition of Angel Stadium, a taxpayer-owned property, four years after city officials began investigating its status following the corruption scandal.
The sale also follows Governor Gavin Newsom's recent signing of the “Home Run for Anaheim Act” into law. This bill mandates that the team use the “Anaheim Angels” name if a new lease agreement or land sale deal is reached, provided it involves a surplus land act exemption. The new law clarifies that this requirement would not apply if the City of Anaheim and the team, currently known as the Los Angeles Angels, agree on their affiliation. Historically, the team's naming has been a point of contention during negotiations between Anaheim officials and Moreno.
State Assemblyman Avelino Valencia, who authored the new bill, described the sale as a significant day for Anaheim and a new chapter for the Angels. In a Tuesday statement, Valencia remarked, “New ownership means new possibilities, and Anaheim is ready for them.” He expressed a desire for a partnership rooted in pride of place, a team reflecting its home city, and the return of the Anaheim Angels, adding, “Anaheim is ready to work together, and Anaheim is ready to win!”
State Senator Tom Umberg, who previously advocated for an audit of the Angel Stadium lease alongside Valencia following the city's corruption probe, echoed the assemblyman’s sentiments. Umberg stated on social media, “A great day for Angels fans and Anaheim. This agreement ushers in an exciting new era for the team, the city and the generations of fans who call Anaheim home. Looking forward to what’s ahead.”
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken initially did not respond to questions regarding the sale's implications. However, in a later statement, Mayor Aitken called the event a “new chapter for baseball in Anaheim.” She expressed encouragement from Stan Kroenke’s track record with the Rams and his commitment to investing in and uplifting neighborhoods. Aitken added that she looks forward to working with the incoming ownership to advance city priorities related to housing, open space, and youth sports at the appropriate time.
In a follow-up text message, Mayor Aitken confirmed that the current stadium lease, which she has previously criticized, will remain in effect once the deal is approved. She added, “It’s premature to discuss any future development, but I do plan on seeing more October baseball in Anaheim.”
City officials have previously denied ongoing long-term discussions about the taxpayer-owned property, despite a private meeting in 2025 involving city officials, real estate consultants, and Angels executives to discuss the state's Surplus Land Act. The Surplus Land Act is a state law governing the sale of public land. State Attorney General Rob Bonta fined Anaheim officials nearly $100 million in 2022 for allegedly violating this act during the city's prior attempt to sell Angel Stadium. Although Bonta initially allowed that deal to proceed, it was ultimately halted after FBI agents publicly alleged that former Mayor Harry Sidhu attempted to fast-track the stadium deal in exchange for campaign funds. Sidhu subsequently resigned and pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about expecting campaign funds from the Angels and for wire fraud.
