In a lawsuit scheduled to go to trial next week, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who play in Target Center, are battling the arena’s management company over which gets to sell advertising space on one of the facility’s gigantic outside walls.
That wall is suddenly prime billboard territory because Target Field next door will soon be full of thousands of Minnesota Twins fans, and every time they look toward right field, Target Center’s big wall will be in the background.
They know they won’t win a championship next year, so the last-place Minnesota Timberwolves are using a different tactic to sell season tickets: brutal honesty. “We’re telling our consumers that we’re a growth stock,” team president Chris Wright says. From this week until April 1, the Timberwolves are letting fans renew or buy new season tickets at up to 50% off. Mr. Wright says this may boost renewal rates to 85% from this season’s 70%. The renewal rate was 93% in 2004 after the team made the Western Conference Finals.
Change is in the air, or better yet, change is on the air. On Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves launched an aggressive fan development program to pack the Target Center and create a tremendous home court advantage. President of basketball of operations David Kahn stepped in front of the camera to film a variety of new ads that clearly explain the necessary steps to building a winning ballclub.
“We want to create a phenomenal atmosphere inside Target Center, both for our players and our fans, and we’re willing to reward the loyal fans who will make that goal a reality by committing to us during March with some of the best ticket pricing in our franchise’s history,” team president Chris Wright said.
From the Timberwolves:
Kevin Love Helps Launch ‘Hoops for St. Jude’ Week
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced yesterday that forward Kevin Love is one of six NBA players who have teamed up to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers, during “Hoops for St. Jude” Week (March 1-7). Love, Shane Battier, Steve Blake, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay and Danny Granger are donating to St. Jude for each point they score throughout the season, with a season-end minimum total donation of $20,000. Last season, Love also served as a spokesman for St. Jude and helped in fundraising efforts.
