Twins: More changes sweeping through the office

Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Minnesota Twins recognize that change is needed before the 2013 season rolls around.  This week, it came out that three members of the Minnesota Twins marketing department are gone:

• Patrick Klinger, Vice-President of Marketing – fired
• Heidi Sammon, Director, Event Marketing – let go
• Andy Price, Senior Director, Broadcasting/Game Presentation – chose to leave

The news comes from @DarrenWolfson, who provides a good source of information for Minnesota sports via Twitter.

Two of the three staff members left at the team’s initiative, and the third, who left voluntarily, oversaw the in-game presentation, such as what appears on the “big screens” during the game.  By choice and by default, the team could have a very different look next year without even considering the players that end up on the field.

Twins fans have made their frustrations known over the last two dismal seasons, and the unscientific rumor on the street leads me to believe that season ticket sales may be struggling.  In conversation, on Twitter, and in listening to local radio, I’ve heard more than just a handful of fans say they are cancelling or decreasing their season ticket packages.

The Twins organization’s adjustments mean more than the possibility of changes that could include new TwinsFest events or different video presentations during game.  It also means that the Twins organization is taking this offseason seriously, at least when it comes to fan perception.  Changing up the marketing department probably won’t have a direct impact on what happens on the field.  It could, however, have a direct impact on how the fans react to offseason moves and how fans approach the 2013 season.  And the Twins do well to consider that fans’ approach to 2013, as it has a financial impact on the team.