Winning Isn’t Top Five? Arte Moreno’s Comments Expose a Bigger Problem in Anaheim

Written By Jas Singh

Angels Articles

March 29, 2026 - Written by Jas Singh

As March dwindles, the buzz has certainly returned for Angels fans, as the ballclub’s expectations are consistently rising year by year, at least for some people. About a month ago, our beloved owner Arte Moreno came out during the team’s annual opening spring training media day in Tempe, Arizona, to put together an interesting choice of words. The longtime owner told several reporters, including Jeff Fletcher, “The number one thing fans want is affordability,” Moreno said, via Fletcher. “They want affordability. They want safety, and they want a positive experience when they come to the ballpark. Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.” Hearing such news at first is absolutely gut-wrenching, but that’s a feeling Angels fans are always used to. None of what was said was indirectly a surprise and truly makes us a laughing stock of Major League Baseball.

Despite the product being absolutely mediocre, fans still show up. The team was 13th in major league attendance in 2025 and, over the last decade or so, has always been hovering around the top 10 or 15 mark. Many could argue the emergence of Shohei Ohtani or the overall career of Mike Trout has helped numbers, but even then staying above almost half the league is bewildering. We have seen fans who've supported this team way beyond my time boycott and push other fans to stay away from the ballpark and merchandise. However, thanks to several wonderful social media-driven accounts like ours, HaloTees, Angels Only, TaylorWardLover, HaloBoys, LoganOHoppeLover, and several others, the younger generation and several other fans have remained loyal. Loyalty isn’t supporting Arte, but the young players who are the future of this ball club and names that deserve to be among the league’s best regardless of the results of the games. I understand affordability is important to fans, but the product on the field is equally essential. The obvious question to many fans is also, "Why should they spend money on a team that is going to lose the majority of the time they are at the ballpark?" A winning culture would attract more fans and help us distance ourselves from the narrative of being the little brother in LA.

The era of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani serves as the most evident illustration of the shortcomings of Moreno's statement. The Angels had two talents that are both in conversations of going down as the best baseball has ever seen. Yet even with the Los Angeles market and these two names, Arte pushed GM Perry Minasian to acquire cheap rentals or aging veterans. In most winning organizations, players of that caliber warrant either rings or consistent playoff runs; in Anaheim, it maybe gets you above .500 on the year. Instead, the Angels failed to build a sustainable roster around them, consistently falling short due to poor pitching depth, inconsistent roster construction, and a lack of long-term direction. For fans, the situation wasn’t just frustrating—it was inexcusable.

Moreno’s comments expose a clear lack of distinguishing a business from baseball. He attempts to point people in the direction of improving “fan experience," but fails to realize he’s running a big league ball club, not a theme park. A clean stadium, affordable concessions, and a safe environment are all baseline expectations for any professional franchise. They are not selling points—they are standards. What transforms a regular ball park outing into a lifelong experience is what happens on the field. Close games in September, playoff races, and championship aspirations are what create lasting memories and emotional investment. Hungry young talent like Neto, Schanuel, O’Hoppe, Moore, and Soriano want to be a part of winning ballclubs. How are you expected to keep talent you developed with no winning culture? Instead, it constantly seems like even the little talent you scrape up in a bottom -five farm system will become another team’s success story because you refuse to try and compete. When Mike Trout eventually hangs it up, what marquee talent are you going to even attract with no winning culture or sufficient resources? That will not only affect the product on the field but will also lose Mr. Arte Moreno ticket and merchandise sales.

When diving into the business aspect of things, prioritizing winning is not only logical—it is essential. Winning drives ticket sales, boosts merchandise revenue, increases media attention, and strengthens brand identity. Strong franchises that win don’t need to provide fans incentives to show up; the success of the team fuels engagement. Teams that struggle year after year can't compensate for losing with marketing or stadium upgrades.

Moreno’s statements instill larger concerns about where this organization is going to go in the next decade. When ownership themselves kills and downplays the importance of winning, it sends a message throughout the entire franchise—from the front office to the clubhouse—that competitiveness may not be the primary focus. Baseball is a sport where even the smallest improvements can separate juggernaut contenders from rebuilding teams; a mindset that is more business-driven than baseball-driven is sure to create some turmoil.

Arte Moreno’s comments didn’t just miss the mark—they highlighted a more profound issue within the organization. Winning is not a luxury. It is not a secondary goal. It is the foundation of everything in sports. The Angels must recognize, embrace, and act upon that reality to move forward. Until then, the gap between ownership and the fanbase will only continue to grow.

Disclaimer : (1) Links of players are property of MLB, MiLB, and Baseball Reference. (2) InsideHalos is a fan-made site not affiliated with Angels Baseball.

Jas Singh

Sports fanatic and lifelong Angels/Lakers/Raiders diehard fan. SoCal native playing Collegiate Men’s Volleyball and studying Physical Therapy in Arizona.

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