The T'Wolves yesterday launched their "season-ticket renewal campaign, offering a 10 percent refund off next season's tickets if the team doesn't make this season's playoffs," according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The campaign includes "price increases in many ticket levels as the team transitions from bargain prices it instituted in recent seasons to bring fans back to Target Center." Some fans who "participated in a flat-pricing 'loyalty' plan from last year's labor lockout will see their ticket prices ... nearly double or more next season." The team still will "sell 1,000 lower-level seats for $20 per game and 8,000 upper-level seats at $7 and $4 each per game." The team also is offering "perks such as a team dinner, coach's chalk talk, open practice and boat cruise as part of a membership program in which the current 10,000 season-ticket holders will be separated into five levels ranging from gold to president's club" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/17). Team President Chris Wright said, "We needed to put some skin in the game for our membership. This discount is something we discussed months ago. And if we don't fulfill our goal of making the playoffs, for whatever reason, we still want to do it." In St. Paul, Ray Richardson notes among the "features in the new campaign is the creation of membership levels titled President's Club, Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum and Gold." The levels are "available only to current season-ticket holders who plan to renew." Based on the "membership level purchased, the benefits include early arena entrance, dedicated concession lines, discounted parking and a 20 percent discount at the Wolves Pro Shop." Price increases in season-ticket plans "range from 1.1 percent to 21.7 percent." Pricing for two categories "remained the same from last season, and prices in two other categories were decreased by 22.3 percent and 33.4 percent" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/17).
BUCK STOPS HERE: In Milwaukee, Rich Kirchen notes so far this season, the Bucks' "average home attendance is the lowest since the team started playing in the Bradley Center in 1988 and ranks 27th in the 30-team NBA at 14,029." The timing for the attendance "dip is worth examining as the Milwaukee community prepares a discussion on whether to build a new downtown arena that would house the Bucks plus other sports teams and entertainment events" (MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/11 issue).
