The College of Business trip to visit the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx facilities and to watch the Timberwolves game on Sunday, February 12 was truly a great opportunity.
Upon arriving, we were met at the bus by Scott Hebert who was our escort throughout the day. The first place he took us was up into the area where they host people and talk with them about potentially purchasing ticket or group packages. This area was really innovative because of the touch screen TV that allows potential clients to get a 360 degree view of the seat that they are interested in. It also had The 2016 Slam Dunk Trophy in the room as well as lockers with player’s shoes in it so people can see truly how amazing these athletes are. From there, we moved onto where the Timberwolves/ Lynx practice and workout. This was the area that I found most intriguing. From there, we could see both practice courts, the gym where the players worked out, and we also earned that the team is the first team in the NBA to have a personal chef due to the diversity of the team. They also have team specific doctors so that injuries can be attended to as soon as possible and that the recovery process can be as quick as possible. The last place that we got to see was the theater. This is where we had a panel discussion with some key employees such as the VP of Marketing as well as a couple Inside Sales Managers. It was very interesting to see how their careers developed and how they came to working in the industry.
Being an avid fan of all sports as well as playing sports my whole life, I could really connect with this experience on a whole new level. I grew up watching all types of sports: football, baseball, basketball, etc., but it never occurred to me how much goes into it than just the players going out onto the court and playing a game. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx experience was incredible to me because I was able to learn more about the sport from as business standpoint, as well as getting to watch the game. Seeing the facilities, offices, practice facilities, and the theater really showed me how innovative teams are becoming, and how they are doing things to set themselves apart from the other teams in the NBA. Speaking with the panel members who took time out of their busy schedule to speak with us and answer questions allowed me to gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of a sport that I grew up watching.
Vince Fallico Marketing Senior