Looking to end title drought with Rams
Any Manchester United fan who watched Super Bowl LV may have noticed some familiar faces.
In February 2021, as Tom Brady was enjoying his NFL title with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there he was with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Joel Glazer, the billionaire who–along with his brothers–owns the Bucs and United.
And, just as the Glazer family is harshly criticized by Red Devils fans in Manchester, another American tycoon is trying to repeat his success in the NFL and put aside the problems coming from the other side of the Atlantic: Stan Kroenke.
Owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), Stan, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at 10.7 billion dollars, manages his clubs together with his son Josh. Now, he is looking to win the biggest title for one of the teams he manages for the first time in 12 years.
Founded in 1999, KSE began its work in the NBA and NHL. In 2000, Kroenke acquired the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and won the Stanley Cup as early as 2001.
Since then, he has become the principal (or sole) owner of the Colorado Rapids (MLS, 2004), as well as the Los Angeles Rams (majority ownership in 2010) and the Premier League’s Arsenal (majority ownership in 2018).
Kroenke’s teams:
Los Angeles Rams – Majority owner since 2010.
Lost Super Bowl LIII to the Patriots in 2019 and will play in its second NFL finals in three years. From 2010 to 2022, the team made the playoffs four times, all from 2017 to this point.
Arsenal – Majority owner since 2018.
FA Cup champion in 2019-20 and Community Shield champion in 2020; has never won the Premier League under his tenure.
From 2018 to 2022, Arsenal did not play in the Champions League, a tournament it contested every season from 2000 to 2017. In the Premier League, he has finished eighth in the last two seasons.
Denver Nuggets – Since 2000
Never made it to the NBA Finals. Between 2000 and 2021, the Nuggets went to the playoffs 13 times – and fell in the first round nine of those times. In the last three seasons, they have reached the West Finals once and the semifinals the other two.
Colorado Avalanche – Since 2000
Stanley Cup champion in 2001; never returned to the Final. Since the title, the team has returned to the playoffs in 11 seasons, missing the other eight. However, the last conference final was played in 2001-02.
Colorado Rapids – Since 2004
MLS Cup champion in 2010; never returned to the final. In the last decade, did not even go to the playoffs six times. When they have, they fell in the semifinals in 2016 and quarterfinals in 2021 and 2011.
