Arturo Moreno
Arturo "Arte" Moreno is an American businessman and Major League Baseball team owner best known for purchasing the Anaheim Angels in 2003.
Arturo "Arte" Moreno is an American businessman and Major League Baseball team owner best known for purchasing the Anaheim Angels in 2003. He became the first Mexican-American and first Latino majority owner of a major North American professional sports franchise. He has remained publicly associated with the Los Angeles Angels organization since the purchase.
Early life and education
Moreno was born in Tucson, Arizona, and is described in biographical sources as a Mexican-American businessman. One source states that he studied marketing at the University of Arizona and served in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s.
Business career
Before entering baseball ownership, Moreno worked in the billboard and outdoor advertising industry and built wealth through Outdoor Systems, a Phoenix-based company. Sources describe him as a billionaire by the time he bought the Angels.
Owner of the Angels
Moreno purchased the Anaheim Angels in 2003 for a reported price of about $183.5 million to $184 million. The franchise later used the Los Angeles Angels name, and Moreno has remained its owner into 2026.
Historical significance
His purchase of the team was described as a milestone for representation in major professional sports ownership, with sources crediting him as the first Mexican-American or first Latino majority owner of a U.S. major league team.
Key facts
- Arturo Moreno is the first Mexican-American and first Latino majority owner of a major North American sports franchise.
- He purchased the Anaheim Angels in 2003 for about $183.5–184 million.
- He built his fortune in the billboard and outdoor advertising business.
- He previously held a minority interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- In 2023, he announced he would not sell the Angels after exploring a sale in 2022.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Arturo Moreno?
Why is Arturo Moreno notable in sports history?
When did he buy the Angels?
What business was he involved in before baseball ownership?
Did he try to sell the Angels?
References
- Baseball-Reference Bullpen — https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Arte_MorenoSupports: Birth in Tucson, 1946; purchase of the Angels in 2003; role as first Latino majority owner in major North American sports; outdoor advertising background; 2023 statement that the team was no longer for sale.
- Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/culture-magazines/moreno-arturoSupports: Birth details; family background; military service; University of Arizona education; business career; purchase of the Anaheim Angels; first Mexican-American to own an MLB team.
- Deseret News — https://www.deseret.com/2003/5/16/19722558/love-of-baseball-motivates-moreno/Supports: Purchase of the Angels; Mexican-American background; upbringing in Tucson; University of Arizona education; military service; Outdoor Systems business success.
- Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-18-sp-moreno18-story.htmlSupports: Family and background details; identification as the first Mexican American to own a U.S. major league sports franchise.
- Major League Baseball — https://www.mlb.com/news/arte-moreno-on-state-of-the-angels-organization-2026Supports: Moreno’s continued role as Angels owner in 2026 and current organizational context.