Arte Moreno
Arte Moreno | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1946 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, sports team owner |
| Known for | First Mexican-American to own a major professional sports franchise in the U.S.; owner of the Los Angeles Angels |
Arturo "Arte" Moreno (born August 14, 1946) is an American entrepreneur. On May 15, 2003, he made history as the first Mexican-American to acquire a major professional sports franchise in the United States when he purchased the Anaheim Angels baseball team from the Walt Disney Company. In August 2022, Moreno revealed he was considering selling the team but ultimately chose to retain ownership as of January 2023.
Early life and education
Moreno was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona within a Mexican American household, being the oldest among 11 siblings of Maria and Arturo Moreno, both immigrants from Mexico. His father managed a modest printing business, while his grandfather was the founder of Tucson’s inaugural Spanish-language newspaper. After completing high school in 1965, Moreno served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to civilian life in 1968, he pursued higher education and earned a degree in marketing from the University of Arizona in 1973.
Advertising background
Following graduation, Moreno joined Eller Outdoor, an advertising company, where he traveled across the country for seven years before establishing himself in Phoenix in 1984. He then joined billboard firm Outdoor Systems. Moreno and his partner Wally Kelly sought to purchase the company from owner William S. Levine but instead formed a partnership that led to Moreno becoming president and CEO.
Moreno took Outdoor Systems public in 1996. The company’s stock value rose significantly, culminating in its acquisition by Infinity Broadcasting for $8 billion in 1998.
Baseball ownership
A passionate baseball fan, Moreno co-purchased the minor league team Salt Lake Trappers with 17 investors in 1986 and sold it profitably in 1992.
By 2001, Moreno set his sights on owning a Major League Baseball franchise. After an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the Arizona Diamondbacks, he shifted focus to the Anaheim Angels. In April 2003, he reached an agreement to buy the team from The Walt Disney Company for $180 million; Major League Baseball approved this transaction in May.
Angels owner
Moreno made significant investments in marquee players such as Vladimir Guerrero and actively engaged with fans, which resulted in an increase of attendance by 750,000 during their championship season.
In 2005, he made a contentious decision to rename the team from Anaheim Angels to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim aimed at expanding market reach throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area and boosting revenue streams. This move provoked opposition from Anaheim officials and local supporters, leading to a lawsuit that ultimately favored the team.
During Moreno’s tenure, the Angels secured five American League West division titles (2004–2009, 2014) and achieved three consecutive winning seasons (2007–2009). Despite acquiring star players like Albert Pujols and Mike Trout—whose combined contracts exceeded $900 million—the franchise struggled to advance in postseason play, experiencing a playoff victory drought spanning from 2010 through 2022 and matching a franchise record with seven straight losing seasons by 2022.
In 2006, Moreno negotiated a lucrative decade-long television broadcast agreement with Fox Sports Net, which doubled the franchise’s value to $368 million within three years. By 2018, Forbes estimated the Angels’ worth at $1.75 billion.
In October 2020, Moreno’s SRB Management agreed to buy Angel Stadium along with adjacent properties for $320 million. However, following a corruption probe related to the transaction—which led to Anaheim mayor Harry Sidhu’s resignation—the deal was canceled in May 2022.
Moreno announced in August 2022 that he was considering selling the Angels—then valued at $2.2 billion by Forbes—but later reversed his decision, citing "unfinished business" as his reason for retaining ownership.
Despite early accomplishments, Moreno faced criticism over expensive contracts (including Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Anthony Rendon), hesitancy to exceed luxury tax thresholds, underfunding player development facilities, and reducing investments in analytics and training resources. These factors contributed to poor farm system rankings and prolonged organizational difficulties.
The signing of Pujols to what was then a record $254 million contract is now widely viewed as one of baseball’s least successful free-agent deals. The team’s decline intensified after 2015; from 2016 through 2024 they missed postseason appearances despite having MVP-caliber talents like Trout and Shohei Ohtani on their roster.
During the 2023 offseason, the Angels lost Ohtani to free agency after failing to match an offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, amplifying fan dissatisfaction amid continued playoff absences. As of 2025, the Angels maintain MLB’s longest active postseason drought since their last playoff appearance in 2014.
Additional Business Ventures
On February 26, 2006, Moreno spearheaded a consortium to purchase Radio 830 KMXE, recognized as the largest Spanish-language AM station across the United States. During 2006 and 2007, the station served as the Spanish-language broadcaster for the Angels. On July 17, 2007, operations relocated to newly established studios at Angel Stadium. Prior to the 2008 season, the station rebranded as AM830 KLAA (AM) and transitioned to a fully English-language format, which included airing Angels games and subsequently incorporating morning and afternoon sports talk programming.
Although ownership of radio stations by sports franchises has become increasingly frequent (for example, the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Commanders), this model continues a precedent set by Angels founder Gene Autry, who owned 710 KMPC and broadcasted games for many years.
Personal Background
Moreno has been married twice and is the father of three children.
In 1997, he and his wife established the Moreno Family Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations focused on youth development, education initiatives, and athletic programs at the University of Arizona.
Known for maintaining a high level of privacy, Moreno rarely participates in interviews and avoids public commentary about his private life. Individuals familiar with him characterize him as a committed advocate of Republican causes and deeply devoted to his family.
In September 2020, Moreno publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president, emphasizing that it was "very necessary to vote for President Trump."