They Know Jack: T’Wolves Installing New Courtside Seats

T’Wolves Adding 16 VIP Courtside Seats

The T’Wolves are planning 16 new courtside seats at the Target Center for next season, which will be sold on a season-ticket basis at $64,500 per person, according to John Vomhof Jr. of the MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL. The new “Nicholson seats” could mean more than $1M a year in new revenue for the team. The seats will offer an “assortment of perks, including free food and drinks at NBA City before each game, valet parking and a locker in Target Center for personal belongings.” The team may also bring the seat-holders along on a road trip. In order to make room for the seats, the T’Wolves plan to “shrink the center-court rotational signage” at the arena and “shift some members of the media from the scorers table to other locations.” The changes will “eliminate [30-40] lower-level seats and create some upfront expenses, but the team expects to easily cover those costs within the first year.” About two-thirds of NBA teams are expected to add “similar seats by the start of next season.” Sports Business Group President David Carter said, “Media used to have a lot of the courtside seating and now they’ve really pared that back dramatically. NBA clubs realize they’ve been giving away real estate for far too long” (MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/12 issue).