Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke continues to impress and have a second wind of success throughout his sporting empire with the next point of focus clear. After winning the Super Bowl in 2021 with the LA Rams, he followed that up with an unexpected NBA title for Denver Nuggets and now has one major goal left.
Having gone through a host of ups and downs in his time controlling Arsenal as part of his sports and entertainment business [KSE], the American is now prospering and getting the praise for his investments. Alongside son Josh, who is growing in importance at the Nuggets and Arsenal by the day, KSE is now one of the premier sporting brands out there.
Their dual success is now mounted towards creating a historic triad of title wins across the world and Josh has pitched his words towards the fans of the many franchises owned by his father. “Enjoy it. This is for you,” he Altitude TV network, the group owned by KSE.
“I knew that when we got here we wanted to figure out a way to stay and be in the conversation and I think these guys are going to be in the championship conversation for a long time.”
Josh's rise to prominence has now seen him become the new vice-chair of the club as an official backroom reshuffle was confirmed earlier this year. Tim Lewis, a lifelong fan and constant advisor to Kroenke, also has more impact on a day-to-day basis. The family are very much a combined group, though, and Tim Payton of the Arsenal Supporters Trust echos the praise for recent success.
“There is definitely more of a connection with fans. It’s definitely a happier Arsenal,” he said to the Financial Times. “Arsenal fans will think of KSE’s involvement through Josh — he’s the figurehead. But Stan still makes the big calls." Payton also added that 'Josh has a much more outgoing personality' which makes him suited for the role.
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It is his move within the club that has coincided with better form, transfer expertise and overall atmosphere sea-change. Whereas Stan is described as 'distant and reserved,' never showing 'real interest in the supporters,' Josh is more commonly seen at the Emirates Stadium.
He splits his time between America and London and has been a busy man in the past weeks as he attended NBA final matches whilst also seeing out the end of the Premier League season as well. His growing influence has been a big boost for the club just when it was needed but Payton continues to describe worries over Kroenke that cannot be ignored.
"It’s fragile and doubts remain over their intent given the support they gave for the Super League," he explained. However, few could have predicted that Kroenke would be even this accepted after the 2021 fallout. Although not emotive with fans, LA Rams president Kevin Demoff has lots of good to say about the USA-based billionaire.
“One of the greatest characteristics of Stan is that the highs are not too high and the lows are not too low,” he said. “He takes a steady, methodical approach.” That isn't perhaps something that fans acknowledge of get much out of, but yet the importance across franchises has been shown.
“We talk to him daily to keep him abreast of what’s going on,” Demoff added. Meanwhile, Rams head coach Sean McVay has witnessed the effect that can be had from the top-down approach as he went to watch the Nuggets play, crossing the NFL-NBA divide being bridged by Kroenke.
“Being in the locker room with them afterwards and just watching the way they stayed the course, the patience and leadership by the Kroenkes. it was awesome to be able to see,” he said.
“What else can you say, a Super Bowl, a Stanley Cup, winning an NBA title now and [the Arsenal result] — some pretty damn good owners right there.”
The next challenge is to take it a step further in England and in a more competitive, fiesty and demanding atmosphere. The changes made appear to be bearing fruit, though, and the new line has already been taken. For Kroenke, his critics still exist but those close to him remain firm on the measures that have gotten him this level of success.
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