See the Wolves on the cheap

You'll often see statistics cited for what it costs the average family of four to attend various sporting events. Sometimes they come without context, so a recently updated Team Marketing Report (available at teammarketing.com) on what it costs to attend NBA games in every market is valuable not just for its raw data but also for its explanative power.

Per the report, the average cost for a family of four to attend a Timberwolves game is $281.06 (about $50 less than the NBA average and about $100 less than what it costs for that same family to attend a Wild game, according to the NHL report that was released last month).

What is this average family of four buying? Per the report, the price includes "four average-price tickets, two cheapest beers, four cheapest soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size hats."

This seems to be a very average way to go about the fan experience, which one supposes is the idea. But it also seems outdated and impractical in 2014.

A family of four can spend $281 on a Wolves game with ease — or it can spend less than that for roughly the same experience.

Here, then, is the Michael Rand fan index guide for a family of four going to a Timberwolves game:

• Tickets: There are so many ways to get ticket deals now other than just plopping down money. If you just want to get in the door — and as a kid, that's all I really cared about — Stubhub.com generally has Wolves tickets starting from $10-15 apiece. If for some reason you're not OK with buying from the secondary market, you get a price break buying directly from the team for certain games. If you're willing to go on a weeknight or see a game against a lesser opponent, you can get four lower-level tickets for as little as $96.

• Programs: Don't buy them, unless you are a collector or relish the idea of throwing it away after years of it sitting in your basement.

• Hats: If you are buying hats at a sporting event in the first place, you are doing it wrong. Also, the $281 covers adult hats but nothing for the kids? How rude. There is a thing called online shopping now. It's great. I bet you can find two adult and two kids hats for the same price as two adult hats at the game.

• Concessions: Hot dogs, soft drinks and cheap beer? Here's the place to reinvest some of the money you saved on tickets.

Now ... I've never been to a game as a family of four. I have a 7-month-old daughter who doesn't know a basketball from a chair (though she probably would put both in her mouth). Point is, I have never been kid-pressured into buying unnecessary things at a game, and surely that is a wild card that can burn a hole in a wallet quickly.

Overall, though, the points stand. Shop around. Don't settle for average. Spend less than $281.06, or at least stretch it more creatively than the report would have us believe.