T'Wolves Ramp Up Hispanic Marketing With Spanish Website, Radio Deal

The T'Wolves are "ramping up their efforts to reach out to their Hispanic fans as they try to capitalize on the popularity" of Gs Ricky Rubio and J.J. Barea, according to John Vomhof Jr. of the MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL. The team on Tuesday "unveiled an all-Spanish website, timberwolves.com/espanol, that will feature regular video and written features on Rubio and Barea from Wolves Spanish radio announcer Alfonzo Fernandez." The news comes on the "heels of last week's announcement that the Wolves will broadcast 12 games in Spanish this season" on KBGY-FM, "double the number from last season." The team also will "host two Spanish heritage nights at Target Center this season" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/1). The St. Paul Pioneer Press' Ray Richardson said, "Every time Ricky Rubio's name is mentioned, there is a deafening roar in the arena. People have really fallen in love with him. ... The man is taking over this town in ways that people thought Christian Laettner would when he was here. He almost in some ways surpassed the popularity of Kevin Garnett. We’re seeing a phenomenon at an early, early stage here in Minnesota.” Richardson added, "The Vikings had a very bad year. The Wild are having a bad hockey season. The Univ. of Minnesota teams are not doing that well. Right now, the Timberwolves have this town where they want them if they can put a few more wins together” (“NBA GameTime,” NBA TV, 2/1).

BECOMING A FUN TEAM TO WATCH: In St. Paul, Tom Powers notes T'Wolves fans six months ago "saw nothing but hopelessness," but the team now is "fun to watch and actually winning its fair share of games," with a record of 10-12. T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn is "happy that 22 games into the season, the franchise seems to be stirring." The team "is improved," and people "appear to enjoy watching it play." Kahn has "made some mistakes," but overall he has "put together a solid core" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/2).