Twins Expecting To Sell Almost 11,000 Season Tickets For '09

Twins Anticipate Surpassing '08 Attendance  Figure Of 2,302,431 This Season

The Twins Thursday said that they "expect to sell almost 11,000 season tickets for the 2009 season," a 10% increase from the franchise record of about 10,000 a year ago, according to Phil Miller of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. The Twins believe the increase in sales is "being fueled by their fans' desire to buy seats" in the team's new Target Field, set to open for the '10 season. The franchise "will begin the seat-selection process for Target Field ... sometime in May, beginning with current ticket holders." The "increase in season tickets, the potential of contending for a playoff berth and the anticipated crowds for the Metrodome's final baseball games in September should allow the Twins to eclipse last season's attendance of 2,302,431, third highest in franchise history, and could allow the team to challenge its record of 3,030,672," set in '88 (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/16). MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL's John Vomhof Jr. reported the team "expects about 90[%] of last year's season-ticket holders to renew -- a strong rate given the economy -- and hopes to add another 2,000 new season ticket holders before opening day April 6." Twins VP/Ticket Sales & Service Steve Smith: "We're in a unique situation with the new ballpark on the horizon, the last year in the Metrodome, a very competitive team and a great value proposition in terms of flexibility and affordability. In some respects, I think we're riding above some of the economic pain that some other organizations are feeling right now" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/15).

MAKING A DEPOSIT: MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL's Vomhof Jr. reports the Twins and U.S. Bancorp "have reached a long-term sponsorship agreement that will make U.S. Bank one of the founding partners for Target Field." The deal "includes the naming of the U.S. Bank Home Run Porch, prominent ballpark marketing and enhanced community involvement with the Twins Community Fund." Financial terms were not disclosed. In addition to extensive branding at Target Field, U.S. Bank also "will work with the Twins to jointly develop marketing and promotional programs and partner on community programs" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/16).