Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, has reached an agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Angels, a move that places a team with a history of postseason absence into the hands of an owner with a proven track record of championship success across multiple sports.
The financial terms of the deal have not been publicly disclosed, but reports indicate the price exceeds the $3.9 billion paid for the San Diego Padres. The Angels, a team that has not reached the postseason since 2014 and has not posted a winning record since 2015, presents a stark contrast to Kroenke's other franchises, which include the Super Bowl LVI champion Rams, the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets, and the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
A New Direction for the Angels
Kroenke's predecessor, Arte Moreno, reportedly suggested that fan surveys indicated winning was not a top priority for Angels supporters. The new ownership aims to shift this focus. The Angels organization previously fielded stars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for six seasons without playoff appearances. Ohtani departed after the Angels declined to match the Los Angeles Dodgers' reported $700 million offer, subsequently joining the Dodgers and contributing to their World Series success.
Stadium and Regional Identity
Beyond on-field performance, Kroenke faces the challenge of addressing the team's aging stadium and the surrounding property. The current lease at Angel Stadium expires in 2032, and the future of approximately 150 acres of adjacent land remains unresolved. Kroenke's success in developing SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Park area offers a blueprint for potentially transforming the Anaheim site.
The acquisition announcement highlighted Orange County's distinct identity, corporate base, and tourism economy. A key recommendation for Kroenke is to commit to Anaheim and Orange County, fostering a regional connection that acknowledges the Dodgers' existing hold on the Los Angeles market. Renaming the team the "Anaheim Angels" is suggested as a way to solidify this local identity.
Rebuilding the Baseball Operation
Analysts suggest that Kroenke's immediate priority should be to hire a top-tier baseball executive to lead the team's operations, rather than an owner directly managing personnel. The team's past spending, including significant contracts for players like Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, has been criticized for prioritizing visible stars over the infrastructure necessary for sustained success. Investments in scouting, player development, minor league facilities, and analytics are cited as crucial areas for improvement.
Winning organizations, the argument goes, allocate resources to areas unseen by fans, such as international operations and player development. Rebuilding the farm system and providing first-class resources to all levels of the organization are seen as essential steps toward creating a winning culture. The departure of Ohtani serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the need to invest in pitching and build a team that can compete for championships.