Anaheim officials learned of the pending Angels ownership swap Tuesday morning “just as fans” were, saying they are optimistic for a “new chapter,” though it’s unclear how a new team owner could change future negotiations for the lease or sale of the city-owned stadium.
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“We’ve certainly welcome the potential of what new ownership could bring, but we do want to be respectful and let the process play out,” said Anaheim City spokesperson Mike Lyster, reached just hours after the news broke that billionaire sports mogul Stan Kroenke announced Tuesday, Sept. 1 that his company has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Angels from long-time owner Arte Moreno.
The announcement from Kroenke Sports & Entertainment says it has “entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels Baseball Club from the Moreno family,” with the transaction being expected to close in first quarter 2027.
“Fans and residents welcome the start of a new chapter for baseball in Anaheim. I am encouraged by Stan Kroenke’s track record with the Rams and his commitment to investing in and uplifting neighborhoods,” Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said.
The sale could be something of a fresh start in negotiations over the stadium’s future – a cloud has hung over things since news broke about FBI prosecutors investigating the mayor and a former Chamber of Commerce executive director, including leaks of confidential information to influence the negotiations.
In response, the City Council quickly canceled a $320 million deal to sell the stadium and its surrounding acres of parking to Moreno, which would have allowed the development of a residential and entertainment district with either a new or renovated stadium at its center.
Mayor Harry Sidhu has since served a prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2023 to four felonies: obstruction of justice, wire fraud and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency.
There have been no meaningful negotiations since the sale was canceled.
“I look forward to working with the team’s incoming ownership to advance our city’s priorities around housing, open space and youth sports at the right time,” Aitken said.
The development proposed by Moreno would have connected to the $4 billion OCVibe development under construction around the Honda Center – the city sold the parking lots around the city-owned arena to an entity of Ducks owner Henry Samueli in 2018 – supercharging even further the attraction of the city’s Platinum Triangle.
“Alongside developments like OCVIBE, the Angel Stadium property has the potential to help advance Anaheim’s vision of becoming the new downtown of Orange County,” Anaheim Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dara Maleki said.
The organization has been undergoing a transformation in its mission to regain community trust after its previous leader was tied to the federal corruption probe.
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The change in Angels’ ownership comes at a time of several moving parts.
City officials are expecting at “year’s end” the results of a stadium assessment on the 60-year-old Angel Stadium, which could govern next steps, including whether the fourth-oldest MLB ballpark in the country should be built anew or potentially need hundreds of millions in repairs.
And there’s a new law that could force a ball club name change depending on future development proposals.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law Assembly Bill 2512, known as the “Home Run for Anaheim Act,” which Assemblymember Avelino Valencia proposed.
If an exemption to the state’s Surplus Land Act is sought for future development – the law prioritizes affordable housing – Valencia’s bill requires the ball club to change its name to Anaheim Angels – Moreno’s removal of the city from the team’s name has been a sore spot for years.
If the team and the city come to a naming agreement of their own, Avelino’s bill would not come into play.
City officials have said they are talking with state partners on how to best navigate the Surplus Land Act in the future – the state declared the previous development plan a violation of the act.
“Names matter. Identity matters. Winning matters,” Valencia said in a press release following the bill’s passing. “Anaheim has been home to this franchise for 60 years. Residents built the stadium, packed the stands, and gave the world the Rally Monkey and a World Series title in 2002. That history belongs to our community, and the team’s name should too.”
The Angels have played in Anaheim since 1966 and the franchise won its only World Series title in 2002 as the “Anaheim Angels,” before dropping the hometown moniker in 2016.
The team currently has a lease on the stadium running until 2032 with the option to extend their stay until 2038.
“A great day for Angels fans and Anaheim,” state Sen. Tom Umberg said in a statement. “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.”
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This is a developing story please check back for updates.