Posted May 29, 2007

• Tim Brewster

• Tubby Smith

• Kevin Slowey

• Ron Gardenhire

• Justin Morneau

U Aims to Sell Out New Stadium

Tom Wistrcill, who directs the Gophers marketing, told Sports Headliners his goal is to sell out TCF Bank Stadium prior to the first game of the 2009 season.  The Gophers move into their new on-campus stadium in two years.  The facility will have approximately 51,000 seats and about 37,000 season tickets could be sold to the general public by 2009, according to Wistrcill, associate athletics director for external affairs.  Student season tickets could total 10,000 to 12,000 and the remaining seats will be in suites and club seating areas. 

“Absolutely, that’s a goal of ours to sell out the new stadium,” Wistrcill said.  “We’re going to have a fantastic product.  We’re going to have the premier stadium we think in college sports.  We think it’s a reachable goal. …” 

Public season ticket sales could total 27,000 this year, Wistrcill said. That would include a projected total of 4,000 new season tickets.  Student sales of 10,000 to 12,000 are expected, similar to last year. 

Advertising for season tickets will start in late July and continue into August.  Wistrcill said an advertising campaign for basketball season tickets is expected to begin in September. 

It’s unusual for a major college athletic program to have new coaches at the same time in the high profile sports of football and men’s basketball.   The arrival of Tim Brewster and Tubby Smith has provided the Gophers with the almost unique opportunity to “re-launch a brand,” according to Wistrcill.  He said the situation is a “tremendous opportunity” for the Gophers to create excitement and interest in the marketplace. 

Wistrcill expects the Gophers will come close to selling out Williams Arena for all games prior to the season.  He’s projecting new public season ticket sales of up to 2,500 and a total public sale of 11,500.  A student sale of 2,500 would bring the total to 14,000 in the 14,625 seat capacity arena. 

The arena includes approximately 2,500 seats with partially obstructed views.  Looking around a beam to see part of the action on the court is less than ideal but Wistrcill thinks increased interest in Smith will drive ticket sales.   

“Like any product, it’s supply and demand,” Wistrcill said.  “It wasn’t any problem getting people in those seats back in the late 90’s when the basketball team was at the top of its game.  We don’t think it’s going to be a problem getting people into those seats when Tubby gets the ship turned around the way we think he can.  And it (Williams Arena) is, we believe, the crown jewel of facilities in the Minneapolis area.  We hope to make it the toughest ticket in town again and that means everybody is going to be in every one of those seats cheering on the Gophers.”

Tim Brewster

Tubby Smith

Slowey Moving Quickly to Twins

Terry Ryan was talking about Kevin Slowey last winter when a lot of fans hadn’t heard of the 23- year-old right- handed pitcher.  The Twins general manager identified Slowey, who was drafted out of college by the Twins in 2005, as a prospect to watch in spring training. 

The Twins recognized Slowey as their Minor League Player of the Week last week.  He was 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, striking out 13 batters and walking two.

So far this season at AAA Rochester, Slowey’s record is 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA.  He’s walked five batters in 64 and one-third innings. 

The guess is Slowey will join the Twins before the week is over, replacing Ramon Ortiz as a starter.  Management admires Slowey’s poise, competitiveness and control of his pitches.  He’s distinguished himself from teammate Matt Garza who many media thought would be with the Twins instead of Rochester.  Garza, who even drew mention as a possible American League Rookie of the Year candidate this spring, has struggled with his emotions and willingness to mix his pitches at Rochester where his record is 2-5 with a 3.21 ERA.  He has walked 22 batters in 56 innings. 

Garza reportedly wasn’t happy with the decision to send him to Rochester.  Twins pitcher Boof Bonser is a former roommate and buddy of Garza. “All I can say is he’s hungry,” Bonser said.  “He wants to be up here and who doesn’t?  It’s the big leagues.  Plus, he got a taste last year. …” 

Garza pitched in 10 games with the Twins in 2006, with a 3-6 record and  5.76 ERA.  He was here long enough to excite observers with his power pitching.  “He’s got a great arm,” Bonser said.  “It’s still fresh.  He’s got good stuff.  He’s got to learn to mix up his pitches. That’s all it is.” 

Bonser, who joined the Twins last season after pitching with Garza at Rochester, has less familiarity with Slowey.  “I didn’t see much of him (in spring training) but he was the big talk and he’s got great command (of his pitches),” Bonser said.  “He knows how to pitch.  Obviously he’s proven it right now.  I read about all those guys down there in the papers. ….”

Boof Bonser

Matt Garza

Worth Noting

Circle the date:  Sports Headliners has learned the Twins ground breaking event for the new stadium will be Thursday, August 2.  Details are still being finalized but the public is welcome at the early evening event and FSN North may televise it. 

Twins president Dave St. Peter said the team might announce its naming rights partner for the new stadium by late next year.  Sports Headliners has suggested Wheaties Field. 

Every Sunday morning when the Twins are at home manager Ron Gardenhire pitches batting practice to young children of Twins players and others affiliated with the organization.  St. Peter said Gardenhire has been following the same routine since he was a coach back in the early 1990s.

Tom Mee, whose 58 years in baseball includes the last 17 as the Twins’ official scorer, will work his last game for awhile on Wednesday.  He’s headed to a family residence up north for the summer and not sure whether he will work any games in September and October. 

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster will be in Brewster, Minnesota on Thursday.  Brewster is a small town with about 500 people located near Worthington, and is one of several communities athletic department personnel are stopping at as part of a spring promotional tour. 

Several players on the Ottawa and Anaheim teams in the Stanley Cup finals are Minnesotans.   Players on the winning Stanley Cup team receive the option to have the cup for one 24-hour period during the summer so it could make a visit here, according to an e-mail from Bill Robertson of the Wild front office. 

Twins’ MVP Justin Morneau, a passionate hockey fan, is picking Anaheim to win the cup.

John M. Williams, DDS

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