Arte Moreno is finally out, selling a controlling interest in the Angels to Stan Kroenke for a reported $4 billion, an MLB record, and Mike Trout is already calling it a “fresh start.” This is huge for a fanbase that’s been through the absolute wringer, watching their team stumble through an eleventh straight losing season after a decade of what can only be described as destitution.
The Moreno Era: A Tale of Wasted Talent and Missed Shots
Let’s be real, Angels fans have earned this moment. Moreno, who snagged the team in 2003 for $183.5 million, is retaining a minority stake, but the heavy lifting of ownership is shifting. His tenure started with some real promise, no doubt. After buying the year after an Angels World Series win, he brought in Vladimir Guerrero in 2004, who went on to win MVP. They even made the playoffs five times between 2004 and 2009. But man, talk about a fall from grace. Since 2010, they’ve only made the postseason once, getting swept in the ALDS back in 2013.
It’s been brutal watching the Angels squander the primes of absolute generational talents like Shohei Ohtani and Trout himself, failing to get them to the postseason during their six years together. The club clearly wasn’t investing in the right infrastructure. Zach Neto, an Angels teammate, touched on it, saying Moreno wasn’t always willing to make the clubhouse better, “in the sense of whatever we need, we get , whether that’s amenity-wise, speakers, whatever it is.” That’s a damning indictment when you’re talking about a professional sports organization.
Kroenke’s Winning Formula: What It Means For Anaheim
Now, enter Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, and his company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). This isn’t just some rich guy buying a toy. This is a guy with a serious track record of winning. Mike Trout said it himself: “What a track record. Wherever he buys, he wins.” It’s hard to argue with that when you look at KSE’s portfolio.
The Rams, under Kroenke, moved to Los Angeles in 2016, hired Sean McVay as head coach in 2017, went to the Super Bowl in 2018, and won it all in 2021, just a year after moving into SoFi Stadium. They’ve made the playoffs seven times in the last nine years! And it’s not just football. KSE also owns the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Arsenal F.C. (Premier League), and the Colorado Rapids (MLS), and guess what? All four of those teams have won championships since 2022. That’s no accident, folks.
Trout and Neto even reached out to Rams players, and the feedback about Kroenke was super encouraging. Neto said the most important thing they heard was that Kroenke “just wants what’s important for us.” He’s all about making sure the players have what they need to succeed. That’s a far cry from the previous regime.
The transaction is set to close in the first quarter of 2027, pending MLB approval, but the vibe is already different. Trout said there’s a “good vibe around the clubhouse, vibe around the stadium.” After 16 years without a single playoff win, imagine what Trout could do with an ownership truly committed to winning. The Angels’ lease at Angel Stadium runs through 2032, so it’s not like they’re going anywhere, but the future of the team itself just got a massive jolt. It’s time to see if Kroenke’s magic can translate to the diamond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply