The Joe Pomp Show Silent Stan: How Stan Kroenke Built A $20 Billion Sports Empire Using Walmart’s Real Estate Playbook
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Jan 20, 2026 Discover how Stan Kroenke revolutionized the sports industry by using a Walmart-style real estate strategy. He transformed sports franchises into lucrative anchor tenants, creating a $20 billion empire. Learn about his massive landholdings, how he acquired major teams like the Rams and Nuggets, and the controversies along the way. Delve into his unique approach to combining real estate with sports, producing wealth from stadium developments, and exploring his influence on urban landscapes.
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Land First, Teams Later
- Stan Kroenke leveraged real estate to amass massive wealth before buying sports teams.
- His holdings reached 2.7 million acres, making him the largest private landowner in the U.S.
Marriage That Shifted A Career
- Kroenke met Ann Walton on a ski trip and married into the Walmart family, which shifted his career.
- He then partnered with Raul Walters to build strip malls anchored by Walmart stores across the Midwest.
Applying Walmart's Playbook
- Kroenke copied Walmart's playbook: buy cheap land, secure an anchor tenant, and profit from adjacent value.
- He scaled to 48+ shopping centers, most anchored by Walmart or Sam's Club, earning substantial rents and fees.