So, it’s that time of year. Season tickets are being sent out to fans across the fanbase, a practice that usually only draws attention when something goes terribly wrong, or an organization swings and misses with some sort of appreciation package that flops.

Minnesota Timberwolves pull valet parking from most season ticket holders

But for Wolves season ticket holders who subscribe to seats in Target Center’s “Lexus Club”, they got an unwelcome surprise notice recently, prior to receiving their fresh batch of tickets.

It was a letter from the Minnesota Timberwolves informing them of a new valet-less reality at home games this season. That’s right, no more valet parking services will be included with their season tickets. [insert favorite ‘devastated’ GIF here]

We are excited to welcome you back to Target Center in October for the start of what should be an exciting season!

In the next week you will be receiving your season tickets and complimentary parking pass in the Timberwolves app. This season your parking pass will be in Ramp A. Here’s how to park in Ramp A:

1. You will be provided with a digital parking voucher in your Timberwolves account.
2. Upon entry of Target Center, the usher will scan your ticketing ID to redeem your seat locators and digital parking voucher for the game.
3. You can redeem your parking voucher with the club concierge who will provide a parking pass to use at the Ramp A parking ramp exit.

You can continue to access the Lexus Courtside Club from the Target Center Lobby (located on the corner of First Avenue and 6th Street) or the First Avenue entrance.

Thank you for your patience and understanding with this last-minute change.

Email from the Timberwolves to ‘Lexus Club’ season ticket holders

Related: When Will the Timberwolves Ownership War End? Put it on Your Christmas List…

This surprise change isn’t just affecting pretty people, in the Lexus Club. According to Minnesota Sports Fan sources, only “full-time Row A season ticket holders” get to keep their complimentary valet parking at 2024-25 Wolves home games.

That’s a lot of mad, angry rich people being forced to park themselves. Is that, in itself, a safety hazard? That’s not for me to decide. Rich people REALLY hate parking themselves, so there’s not a lot of data on the subject.

Upper-Class Timberwolves season ticket holders big mad

How about a discount for these poor Lexus Club members, who now have to PARK THEIR OWN CARS and WALK to the entrance of Target Center unassisted?

Nope, my sources say that club-level season ticket prices actually went up from 2023. Thus, let’s just say there are some big money Timberwolves fans who are big mad this weekend.

The Wolves are contending that, technically, they can’t discount for the discontinued valet service, since it wasn’t being invoiced separately from the tickets. In other words, there is nothing to discount. To that, one Lexus Club member told his season ticket rep, “you have to be f*cking kidding me”.

“I sent some very strongly worded emails to my rep, but of course, he can’t really do anything but apologize.”

“I’m beyond pissed and devastated. I’ll figure out something, I bet, but it’s criminal not to offer a discount on the season tickets. Like, should be legit criminal.”

Lexus Club member – via text messages obtained by Minnesota Sports Fan

Apparently, the lack of valet availability isn’t a Minnesota Timberwolves thing. It’s a City of Minneapolis thing. Unbenounced to me, until this morning, valet services in Minneapolis must be approved and registered with the city.

Related: Timberwolves Remain Very Interested in Rudy Gobert Extension

And it seems the Wolves are being squeezed for downtown valet parking space, for permits or something else that is limiting how many vehicles they are able to valet park during games.

So, get out your prayer beads and say a few words tonight for valet-less Lexus Club members. Maybe pour one out tonight, while watching the Vikings game. They need our thoughts and prayers now, more than ever.

Going to arenas and stadiums to watch high-level college and professional sports teams, is dying. TV’s are getting bigger and clearer. Lives are getting busier and relying more on convenience.

And going to high-level sporting events is expensive as fuck. The profit margin for fountain pop at a [insert favorite team here] game still give rich old men like Glen Taylor and Jim Pohlad erections that last longer than 4 hours.

But with times changing, so must these sports organizations, when it comes to the game day experience. Making concessions and apparel cheaper is a huge step in the right direction and the Timberwolves realize that.

If you buy season tickets with the Wolves for 2020-21, you get 50% off concessions, including apparel…. food… and ALCOHOL.

That’s right. You can now get hammered at a Wolves game, if you hold season tickets, for half the cost of any previous season.

Wolves have put out season ticket plan for 2020-21:
-No price increase
-2 year price guarantee
-season ticket holders get 50% off concessions, including alcohol, and merch
-If you have tix to a game and can’t make it/don’t want to, you can turn exchange them for another game

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 12, 2020

Wolves are last in attendance this season. They know they need to get fans back. Of course: best way is to win.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 12, 2020

Let’s be real. Glen wasn’t going to raise prices after the product he’s put on the floor over the last two years. A two-year price lock is nice, I guess.

But again, how big time are the 50% concessions? You need to eat/drink while you watch games. It’s as necessary as breathing. But, seeing the $27 price tag on a small pop and a pack of Twizzlers, makes me want to pickpocket the guy next to me…

Add a couple beers + a Mike’s Hard Pounder… and now I’m out here begging for spare change after games like I’m Latrell Sprewell. But not next year for season ticket holders.

So, if you are bought in on the new vision of the Timberwolves, go get season tickets. Don’t do it for the team or to make Glen feel better…

…do it for the 1/2 price snacks and foam fingers.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The fans aren’t showing up and now the University of Minnesota is taking action.

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Story: Gophers slash season ticket prices, hoping to boost sagging hockey, basketball attendance numbers: https://t.co/4hIr5Lew8j pic.twitter.com/GmzkXTAhRk

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) April 18, 2019

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Some of the details from Joe Christensen at the Star Tribune are pretty incredible. The University will offer season ticket packages as low as $340 ($190 decrease) for the men’s basketball season. You haven’t been able to get that price since 1995-96. There are also 6 other sections, that overlook the court, which will go down from $640-$490.

Those aren’t small decreases…

For the hockey team over at Mariucci, prices have been reduced $100 in 5 sections, compared to last season. In others, they have dropped $200 from 2 seasons ago.

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via GIPHY

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Mark Coyle pointed to a need to stay competetive with all of the options around the Twin Cities on any given night… which certainly plays into the scenario. But, if you win games, asses will be in the seats.

Pitino needs to have a great spring recruiting season (more on that later) to make sure he wins in 2019-20. Amir Coffey sticking around for his senior season will help the cause too, if his NBA prospect isn’t as high as he hopes. As far as hockey is concerned, they have Bob Motzko so they’ll be fine. And when they start winning, the fans will come back. 

As an SCSU alum and fan, I know Bob will lead the Gophers to the promise land….. and I know a good Gopher team is good for all of Minnesota hockey… even if I hate maroon and gold sweaters.

On the bright side of all of this, if you’re a die-hard who’s been waiting for that season ticket deal you can’t turn down, your patience may have paid off.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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