Current Ownership Structure
The Los Angeles Rams are currently owned by Stan Kroenke, who acquired full control of the franchise in 2010 after purchasing the remaining shares from the NFL. Kroenke operates the team through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, a privately held sports and entertainment conglomerate that also manages the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal F.C. Forbes values the Rams at approximately $7.2 billion, making them one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL. The team's operational headquarters and training facility are located in Agoura Hills, California, while the franchise plays its home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Kroenke's ownership model integrates the Rams into a broader network of sports properties, real estate, and venue management companies. The Kroenke Sports & Entertainment portfolio includes the Pepsi Center in Denver, the Ball Arena, and significant land holdings around Staples Center. This vertical integration allows the Rams organization to control revenue streams from tickets, broadcasting rights, and stadium partnerships without relying on municipal subsidies for facility costs. The NFL's collective revenue-sharing model ensures that even with a privately held ownership group, the Rams benefit from national media deals and sponsorship pools.
History of Rams Ownership
Founding and Early Years
The franchise was established in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams, founded by Homer Marshman, a lawyer and businessman who named the team after the Fordham Rams. The Cleveland Rams won the NFL Championship in 1945 before relocating to Los Angeles in 1946, becoming the first professional sports team on the West Coast. The team remained in Los Angeles until 1994, when Georgia Frontiere moved the franchise to St. Louis, Missouri.
The Kroenke Acquisition
Stan Kroenke purchased a 30% stake in the St. Louis Rams in 2010 and subsequently exercised his right to acquire the remaining 70% of the team for a total purchase price of approximately $900 million. The move triggered a relocation clause that allowed Kroenke to bring the team back to Los Angeles in 2016. The NFL owners approved the relocation in a 30-2 vote in January 2016, citing the financial stability of Kroenke's bid and the proposed Inglewood stadium project. The transaction details were disclosed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reflecting the scale of the private equity transfer involved in the purchase.
Franchise Value and Financial Performance
The Rams generated an estimated $640 million in revenue during the 2023 NFL season, driven by a combination of national television contracts, local broadcasting rights, and premium seating at SoFi Stadium. The team's operating income ranks in the upper tier of the league, supported by a 70,000-seat capacity venue that hosts not only NFL games but also major concerts and international soccer matches. Forbes reports the Rams' annual revenue has grown consistently since the return to Los Angeles, fueled by the market size of the Greater Los Angeles area.
SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020