Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has made a $750 million bid for Mikel Arteta 

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has made a $750 million bid for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is on a roll as his sports teams across the world continue to thrive. With those clubs and franchises under his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) empire challenging at the top of domestic competition in England and America, it has been a stellar period for the real estate tycoon.

This is almost undoubtedly his best patch of results across the board throughout his time as an owner. In the space of just two years he has seen his LA Rams crowned NFL champions, the highest honour possible in American football, whilst he added the NBA championships to his list of accolades in charge when Denver Nuggets won the competition earlier this year.

Colorado Rapids, an MLS outfit, were western conference champions in 2021, while Colorado Avalanche (NHL) were crowned division champion for the third year in a row during 2022/23 and have picked up six trophies in the same period.

The Colorado Mammoth of lacrosse have also won conference titles in 2023 and 2022, as well as the league crown last year.

Arsenal, with whom he has worked for almost 15 years, has yet to achieve the same degree of domination in the Premier League, although they have made significant progress. Last season, the Gunners improved from sixth to second place were serious title contenders under Mikel Arteta’s command. They are again among the favourites to win the league this year.

Kroenke’s influence on Arsenal has waned in recent years, with his son, Josh, taking on a larger day-to-day role within the club and playing a key role in turning things around alongside sporting director Edu Gaspar. Josh Kroenke, who was handed control of the Nuggets and Avalanche nearly 10 years ago due to NFL rules prohibiting owners from having majorities in other major league markets, has been a driving force behind change.

However, it is the Rams, Stan Kroenke’s pride and joy, that dominate financial tables across the world. In new figures revealed by Forbes, the Rams are listed as the fifth most valuable sports team in the world behind the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Golden State Warriors and New England Patriots.

The unifying denominator here is not only the presence of franchises located in the United States, but also the NFL’s reach. Thirty of the top 50 teams are from American football, with three from baseball, six from the NBA, and only seven from Europe. The remaining two places are occupied by Formula One constructors Ferrari and Mercedes.

Few teams can compete with the Rams on all fronts at £5.5 billion ($6.9 billion), and their remarkable valuation comes despite a big drop-off in 2022 following their title win and being predicted to struggle again in 2023. However, their five-year value change is still 116%, leaving Kroenke with an asset that is believed to be worth nine times what he paid for it.

They have slid from second place in 2022, however this is due in part to their failure last year.

Kroenke’s stake peaked at £601 million ($750 million) in 2010, following his connection with the team since 1995 and the contentious relocation of the Los Angeles Rams to St Louis. Arsenal, though, are not yet on the same page as Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Real Madrid.

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has made a $750 million bid for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal have fallen behind their opponents due to their inability to regain the levels of Arsene Wenger’s early 2000s flow and current failures to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition. Although on the rise, there is still more progress to be made.

It is also worth mentioning that the Rams are an exception for Kroenke, as they are the only team on this list. It is difficult to be on the board, let alone have two boats in the race, in a group of the world’s top. Football (soccer) is the fastest growing sport, with teams in the top 50 increasing in value by 114% on average over the last five years.

PSG, for example, has seen its value increase by 334% since 2018. FSG has created a 173% rise as a result of Liverpool’s comeback to the top of the Premier League and three Champions League finals. It is European football and global attention that has aided this rise the most, and Arsenal has undoubtedly benefited from Kroenke’s presence.