Twins President Dave St. Peter said that the team “already has sold 2.4 million tickets for the second season at Target Field and figures to draw 3 million-plus fans again at the downtown ballpark,” according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. One of the “big events” the Twins have planned for this season is the “20th anniversary of the team's 1991 World Series victory, with a reunion weekend to be held Aug. 5-7 when the rival White Sox are in town.” Meanwhile, Twins officials “continue discussions with Lee County (Fla.) commissioners about prospective upgrades for the team's spring training complex in Fort Myers” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/13). Twins Owner Jim Pohlad said that because of the team’s payroll, expected to be around $115M for '11, the club “might not make any money this year.” He added that the club in the past has “spent about 52 percent of revenues on player salaries.” But “apparently the percentage will be higher this year” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/14).
DIVERSIFYING THEIR APPEAL: In St. Paul, Kelsie Smith notes Twins Senior VP & GM Bill Smith’s new business cards will feature his information in English on the front, while the back “will be in Japanese.” The “bilingual business cards highlight one adjustment the Twins are making in the wake of signing” Japanese IF Tsuyoshi Nishioka. The club before signing Nishioka was “one of only four teams never to have an Asian-born player on its big-league roster.” In addition, Twins Exec Dir of Public Affairs Kevin Smith said that the team is “in talks with multiple Japan-based companies about advertising opportunities at both" Target Field and the team's Spring Training home, Hammond Stadium (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/14).
A FAMILY AFFAIR: In St. Paul, Charley Walters noted a “second generation of Pohlads succeeded father Carl in ownership of the Minnesota Twins, and with the stability provided by Target Field, a third generation of Pohlads could operate the franchise someday.” Jim Pohlad said, "Hopefully, it will go to the third generation." The “most logical person to assume stewardship would seem to be Joe Pohlad, who began working in the baseball department and has moved to marketing, special projects and social media” as the team’s Marketing Specialist (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/13).
