About 12,000 season ticket holder seats, or 65 percent of inventory, are being reduced in cost for the 2007-2008 season by the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Team president Chris Wright told Sports Headliners earlier this week that renewal notices were recently sent to season ticket holders and the price roll back on so many seats is precedent-setting for the franchise. 

The Wolves have also introduced a $20 lower level season ticket for 2007—2008.  There are 1,400 of those seats available and the price ranks among the lowest ever offered by the Wolves. 

Wright said “market conditions” prompted the aggressive pricing changes.  The team is on course to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season after reaching the Western Conference finals in the 2004 playoffs. 

“This is a great NBA market,” Wright said.  “What you have to do is align the pricing with the demand for the product to motivate the market to participate in your brand.  We think this motivates people.” 

Some season ticket holders will pay more for their seats next season. The Wolves are increasing prices on average by about $50 per game for 214 courtside seats.  Also, many seats between the baselines will cost season ticket holders $10 per game more in 2007-2008. 

Wright expects a season ticket holder renewal rate similar to last year’s 82 percent.  The rates in 2005 and 2004 were 88 percent and 93 percent respectively. 

Wright said the team still has a waiting list for seats close to the court. The Wolves also have deposits for nearly 600 new season tickets.   

The current season ticket total of 7,000 is low compared to the 10,000 plus the franchise had during other years.  Group sales, special individual ticket pricing, promotions and special events helped put fans in the 19,356 seat Target Center this season. 

The Wolves are averaging 16,013 fans, ranking 23rd in NBA attendance earlier this week.  Last season the Wolves averaged 16,150 fans per game and ranked 25^th in the 30 team league. The franchise’s success as marketers includes selling out six games this season after selling out only one last season. 

The Wolves have tried to meet season ticket holder discontent directly at gatherings such as a recent “town hall” meeting that included vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale.  Wright said topics included trades, draft choices and “team chemistry.”  

Customer communications efforts also produced a four color brochure mailed to season ticket holders, Minnesota Timberwolves, Blue Print for the Future.  The brochure includes a message from owner Glen Taylor stating the team made a mistake in recent years “chasing quick fixes to shortcomings that we had as a team.”  The brochure describes the team’s operating philosophy and criteria in areas such as player acquisition, scouting and style of play.

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Torii Hunter has been a Twins regular since 1999 including on the playoff teams of 2002-2004 and 2006, but he rates the 2007 team the best.  “This is definitely the best team that I’ve been part of,” he said earlier this week.  “I thought the year (2002) that we had David Ortiz, Jacque Jones and Corey Koskie, I thought that team was really special.  But this team right here is something special. …It’s a lot of fun with this ball club we have right now and it’s exciting to watch.” 

The 2002 team won the Central Division championship, finishing 94-67 and 13.5 games ahead of second place Chicago. Last year’s team, 96-66, also won the division, finishing a game ahead of Detroit. 

The Twins return mostly the same personnel as last season but the loss of the extraordinary Francisco Liriano has made the starting pitching rotation a prime target for worry warts.  On the flip side, the team’s hitting, bullpen and defense eases a lot of anxiety. 

“We’re happy with the pitching staff we have,” Hunter said.  “All they have to do is go out there and throw strikes.  They can’t strike out everybody, so just rely on your defense and have faith in your defense.” 

Despite their talent and past success the Twins aren’t the popular pick to repeat as division champions.  “Now that the division is strong they put us on the backburner, way down on the backburner,” Hunter said.   “But I definitely think that just being the underdog gives us a little bit of a motivation to go out there and prove people wrong.” 

Winning the division, because of so many competitive teams, is likely to be determined by which teams avoid injuries to their best pitchers and position players.  “Oh, definitely, it’s all about who is the healthiest,” Hunter said. “That’s the key for every player, for every team.  …You’re going to have some guys get banged up.  It’s just how long they’re out.  You don’t want a guy out so long you’re falling behind and he’s the key guy on your ball club. …”

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The Twins have four players on the list of the 50 greatest Rawlings Gold Glovers of the past 50 years.  Those players are center fielders Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett, first baseman Vic Power and pitcher Jim Kaat.  Kaat won 16 Gold Glove awards, the most of any major league pitcher ever and is tied with Brooks Robinson for most by any player.  From the 50 players fans can vote for the nine who they think are the best, www.rawlingsgoldglove.com

The Twins can back up talk they had baseball’s best bullpen last season.  Minnesota’s bullpen had a major league best 2.91 ERA.  The group’s .722 winning percentage was tops in the majors.

The much maligned Metrodome opened 25 years ago this week.  It’s been the site of major league baseball’s All-Star game, two World Series, a Super Bowl, two Final Fours and numerous special events.

Jason LaFrenz, director of marketing and ticket sales, reports via e-mail that the Gophers’ new season ticket sales for football and basketball are 1,500 and 900. 

FSN North will televise the Gopher football spring game starting at noon tomorrow.  The broadcast team features Anthony LaPlanta and Dean Dalton. 

Former Gopher football player and University benefactor Pinky McNamara was featured on WCCO TV news last Saturday.  The story focused on his life with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Kevin Garnett told Marc Stein of ESPN.com that despite his frustrations with the Timberwolves he hasn’t requested to be traded.   

Saturday is Minnesota Wild Fan Celebration Night at Xcel Energy Center.  The Wild play the St. Louis Blues and all fans receive a set of four Wild collector cups. Fans also will receive a scratch-and-win card providing a chance to win prizes, including Wild player autographed sticks and jerseys.  Players will also give their jerseys to 24 lucky fans.

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