Click here for the full article in The Minnesota Star Tribune by Michael Rand

As far as euphemisms go, “pricing reset” is better than “right-size” the business, the latter being the term Joe Pohlad used to describe a hefty payroll cut for the Twins between 2023 and 2024.

The former is how new Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Matt Caldwell described price increases for Wolves season tickets next year. Renewals went out to season ticket holders the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 21, and there is bound to be some sticker shock.

Fans in the lower bowl are largely looking at price increases of more than 10%, with smaller increases for upper-level season tickets. The cheapest season ticket, in the upper level, is now $21 per game.

To Caldwell, the increases reflect multiple realities: The Wolves were so bad for so long that they had to keep prices low just to get anyone in the building.

(As someone who used to split season tickets with a group of friends for a few bucks a game when the Wolves offered a promotion, I can attest to this).

Even more modest price increases in recent years have kept average Wolves ticket prices near the bottom of the NBA and below teams in similar markets.

The Wolves have been to back-to-back Western Conference finals and are fielding another playoff-caliber team this season. Even with next year’s season ticket increases, they’ll be in the bottom third of the NBA in terms of pricing.

But it stands to reason that even die-hard fans who understand those realities will still chafe at the price increases. That’s just how it works, especially in an uncertain economy.

Average announced attendance this season is already down about 1,500 fans per game vs. last season, though a good part of that could be explained by differences in how attendance was reported by the team in 2024-25 vs. 2025-26.

The Wolves currently have roughly 9,000 season-ticket holders, about half of Target Center’s capacity.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, impact the price increases have on both overall number of season ticket holders and atmosphere within the arena.

27 comments

  1. Prime Ant, young core that’s exciting, KG retirement. Of course it’s going to go up. They’re also saving up to build a new arena

  2. Do we want a team that spends money on it’s players, or cheap owners that do everything they can to stay under the luxury taxes?

  4. Overall, while it sucks to have to pay more for anything, this seems pretty reasonable relative to other teams and the increasing demand from fans.

    However, if they’re going to keep increasing prices I’d like to see them offer more flexibility to sell the tickets for games you’re unable to attend.

  8. I’ve not gotten mine yet. I did get the email before the price Increase. I anticipated it. Hopefully mine isn’t too bad.

    Edit: Nevermind. Sent my rep a question and got the notice lol. 10% increase.

  11. Back during the dark times my uncle won free lower level season tickets. He declined because he didn’t want to pay tax on the face value. They literally couldn’t give them away.

  14. Screw this. Mine went up by almost 25%. I’m a long Time season ticket holder in a long time fan and this is a hard note for me. They aren’t getting my season ticket money.

  17. 17% increase for me. I plan on renewing but I worry about the stands being emptier than they already are. Feels like a sharp decrease in attendance from last year to this year. It’s way more fun when it’s packed. But I get it – times are tough in this economy.

  19. I don’t wanna pay the 36% increase but I also don’t wanna be standing there paying resale prices to see KG’s jersey retirement ceremony either lol

  20. My tickets went up over 20% in price which there is absolutely zero justification for. They are already impossible to sell because they are too expensive, and now they will be even worse. It’s no longer a good investment or worth the money. Lifelong wolves fan and long time season ticket holder. And thinking of no longer being either.

  23. Ours increased 22%, which I guess I should consider myself somewhat fortunate for being in the lower level. Still rough.

  24. I remember going to games to watch Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng… the experience is definitely more valuable now

  25. Multi-year season ticket holder here — lower bowl behind the basket near the visitor tunnel. Got my email today. 9.8% increase. We pay monthly; I think this represents about $60 increase on my monthly payment, I’m not mad. My first year was the first time they had the 50% off deal for members. I understand they were desperate back then. Ant is the best basketball player in the NBA and keeps getting better every year. Also not gonna miss KG’s retirement for anything!

  26. By my math, season ticket prices are up 15-20% depending on location. My main worry with this is we’ve already seen a drop in attendance this season and that might get even worse next season. The one thing I think they have to do get rid of the minimum price people can sell tickets on their app or at least lower it from no less than 75% of the face value to 50%.

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