Arsenal secured its first Premier League title since 2004 this week, further cementing Stan Kroenke's reputation as the most successful professional sports team owner globally. This championship is the latest in a string of victories for Kroenke's franchises, which include the Colorado Avalanche (NHL) in 2001 and 2022, the Colorado Rapids (MLS) in 2010, the Denver Nuggets (NBA) in 2023, and the Los Angeles Rams (NFL) in 2022. His portfolio also boasts seven English women's football league titles by Arsenal and two National Lacrosse League titles by the Colorado Mammoth.
Unprecedented Championship Portfolio
No other owner can claim multiple titles in four of the five major North American professional sports leagues—all except Major League Baseball—nor can they boast championships in five of the world's biggest leagues. This success has propelled Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's franchise valuations to over US$23 billion, making it the most valuable ownership group on the planet.
SoFi Stadium and Future Prospects
Kroenke also owns SoFi Stadium, privately financed for US$5.5 billion, which has become one of the world's premier venues as home of the Rams. He has already secured the rights to host Super Bowl LXI at SoFi in February 2025. With a personal net worth estimated at US$26.8 billion, Kroenke could add another Stanley Cup this spring if the Avalanche overcome a two-games-to-none deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final.
Bears of the Week: Tom Dundon's Contrasting Fortunes
Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and lead partner in the NBA Portland Trailblazers, presents a contrasting story. While his turnaround strategy with the Hurricanes has earned praise, making them Stanley Cup contenders, his approach with the Trailblazers has drawn criticism. Dundon has laid off over 70 employees, cut advanced scouts, trimmed athlete services, and expressed a desire for the lowest-paid head coach in the NBA. Such cost-cutting on coaching, two-way players, and scouts—considered essential to basketball operations—risks alienating fans in Portland if it undermines the team's competitiveness.
The best franchises and owners invest to win, building fan engagement through commitment to success. While exceptions like the former Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays win on small payrolls, they are outliers. Dundon's strategy may lead to shrinking revenues if he fails to prioritize building a winning team on and off the court.
Tom Mayenknecht is a sport business commentator and marketing executive, principal in EMBLEMATICA, and host of The Sport Market on Sportsnet 650 and the Sportsnet Radio Network.
