Black Ice: T'Wolves Look To Profit Despite Attendance Drop

T’Wolves To Turn Profit Despite Drop In Attendance

The T’Wolves will make a profit this season, after losing $5M last year, despite a drop in average attendance of nearly 2,000 per game this season, according to Aron Kahn of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Latrell Sprewell, who earned $14M annually, left after the ’04-05 season as a free agent, and the team’s payroll dropped from $73M last year to $62M this season. Also, T’Wolves President Chris Wright said that income “from the team’s long-term corporate-sponsorship strategy has been creeping up,” though he would not give specifics. Wright said that season-ticket renewal was just 83% this season, “compared to the usual 92 or 93[%], and single tickets didn’t move well, either.” Kahn notes the team is focusing its PR campaign on coach Dwayne Casey and “an apparent new energy on the court, in hopes attendance will head north again.” Also, the team has launched an ad campaign called “True Blue” featuring F Kevin Garnett that pushes ten-game ticket packages. The spots can be seen at www.timberwolves.com. Wright: “We’re re-educating the market.” Kahn notes last season was just the second since Glen Taylor bought the T’Wolves in ’95 that the club suffered a loss (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/23).