The Walt Disney Company chose to sell the baseball franchise to refocus its core corporate strategy entirely on its primary pillars of family entertainment, media networks, theme parks, and cinematic production rather than operating professional sports teams. After purchasing controlling stakes in the team during the 1990s—temporarily rebranding the club as the Anaheim Angels and inspiring famous baseball films—Disney executives decided that owning a sports franchise did not align with their long-term multi-media growth model. Consequently, they initiated a sale of the club to billionaire businessman Arte Moreno, who took over full operational control of the organization.