The Twins season opening game at the Metrodome on April 2 could be sold out before week’s end. Patrick Klinger, vice president of marketing, said 45,464 tickets (48,000 capacity) had been sold earlier this weekend. A year ago at this time the Twins had sold 39,995 tickets for the opener.
The new Minneapolis ballpark and the Twins 2006 Central Division championship is creating more ticket interest, according to Klinger. He said about 8,400 season tickets were sold last year but 2007 season sales have past 9,000 and the Twins are targeting a final total of over 10,000.
Herb Carneal, who has been broadcasting Twins games since 1962 and has health problems including diabetes, is expected to do play-by-play on KSTP Radio for a few innings of the Twins season opener on April 2.
The Wild’s Marian Gaborik is a passionate race car fan. He has a race car simulator in his Minneapolis home and spends hours with it. The simulator is custom made and he bought it last September. Although he wouldn’t say how much the simulator cost, he told Sports Headliners the price was five figures.“It’s an expensive toy but I like it,” he said.
Minnesota will be making its nation-leading 31st appearance in the NCAA hockey tournament when the Gophers play Air Force tomorrow. The Golden Gophers have won five NCAA titles (1974-76-79-2002-03) and have advanced to the semi-finals 19 times. Minnesota is 49-31 all-time in the NCAA’s and has qualified for seven consecutive tournaments.
Basketball booster Ken Lien reports that Crystal Clear Sports is covering all the class A, AA, AAA and AAAA semi-final and championship boys’ state tournament games. www.crystalclearsports.net