Mike Grahl (Minnesota's Timberwolves and Lynx) | Turning Fans into a Movement

Whether it’s the Wolves lighting up the court or the Lynx dominating the playoffs, few understand the power of fan passion quite like Jim’s guest this week on The CMO Podcast — Mike Grahl , Chief Marketing Officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. The Wolves are one of the NBA’s most dynamic rising franchises, and the Lynx—a four-time WNBA champion—are a powerhouse team that embodies the spirit of the Twin Cities both on the court and in the community. Since 2018, Mike has led marketing for both franchises, overseeing brand strategy, creative, digital innovation, retail, and fan engagement. Under his leadership, the Wolves and Lynx have achieved record ticket sales, soaring fan engagement, award-winning campaigns, and retail growth that has set franchise records. Before coming to Minnesota, Mike spent more than 20 years with the Milwaukee Bucks, rising from account representative to Chief Digital Officer and helping drive that franchise’s digital transformation. Tune in as Mike shares how he’s built two thriving sports brands that go beyond the game, the lessons he carried from two decades with the Bucks, and his playbook for turning loyal fans into a movement. --- This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and Best Buy Ads. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .