Tom Pohlad Asks Baffled Season Ticket Holders to Purchase Mixed-Use Development in Up-and-Coming Neighborhood

Over the weekend, The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reported that Minnesota Twins executive chair Tom Pohlad called 50 lapsed season-ticket holders in an attempt to make amends with a portion of the team’s vocally displeased fan base. 

As it turns out, at least some of those phone calls went in an unexpected direction.

“It started out pretty normal, just asking me why I didn’t renew and listening to my responses,” said Zach Christiansen, 41, of Lino Lakes. “But once I told him I was going to wait and see how this season goes before considering renewing, he asked me if I wanted to buy an office building in Bloomington. I thought he was kidding, then he started breaking down the numbers and asking me if I had any limited partners I’d like to bring in.

“I’m a manager at Cub Foods. I don’t have limited partners. I don’t even have a 401(k).”

Christiansen’s experience was echoed by Miriam Westrum, 67, of Edina. 

“These tickets have been in the family forever, but all the kids moved out of state and I really don’t like driving in the Cities, everyone’s going so fast these days,” said Westrum. “I told him that, he said he understood, then he said he had a sweetheart deal on a mixed-use development in downtown Minneapolis. 

“I’m a retired math teacher. My husband passed in 2018. I told him as much.”

In fact, every season ticket holder Twins Daily spoke with said Pohlad closed his call by gauging their interest in a number of properties owned by his family.

“I work in customer service, so I am very familiar with these ‘tell us how we can win you back’ pitches,” said Tommy Gutierrez, 38, of St. Paul. “But it went really off the rails when he asked if I ever considered owning my own skyscraper. He said he could get it to me for ten cents on the dollar, compared to what they paid on it.

“I’m pretty sure he was crying.”