If you thought the “viral popcorn bucket” craze was reserved for the silver screen, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Levy Restaurants have a message for you: Hold my butter.
In a move that signals a major shift in sports concessions, the Minnesota Timberwolves and hospitality leader Levy Restaurants have unveiled a groundbreaking new souvenir popcorn bucket that is more “interactive toy” than food container. Manufactured by Golden Link Inc., the new vessel is designed to bring the viral energy of movie theater collectibles, like the infamous Dune or Ghostbusters buckets, straight to the hardwood.
More Than a Bucket: It’s a Game
Levy Restaurants has made it official today on social media, “For the ball knowers… introducing pop-a-snack 🍿🥤Playable popcorn buckets and souvenir cups. Come shoot ‘hoops’ with us tonight at @targetcentermn as the @timberwolves return to the court.” With Golden Link Inc’s Blake Walaand posting “Sports concessions are about to change 📈🔥”
This isn’t your standard cardboard tub. The bucket is sculpted to look and feel like the bottom half of a basketball, complete with a realistic “pebbled” texture.
However, the real showstopper is the engineering on top. A plastic “contraption” clips onto the rim of the ball, featuring a spring-loaded launcher and a miniature plastic net. Fans can actually place a piece of popcorn into the launcher and “shoot” it toward the hoop, turning a halftime snack into a tabletop shooting competition.
We got a chance to see these on display back at IAAPA 2025 in Orlando, and can testify that they truly feel like a basketball.
The Timberwolves will also have a premium domed cup available, which also features the team’s logo, and inside the dome with a basketball, with net and backboard.
Crunch the Wolf showed off the new Timberwolves basketball popcorn bucket today in a reel posted by Levy. Our only question is, how did he miss that shot?
The “Cinema-to-Stadium” Pipeline
For the past two years, movie theaters have dominated social media with high-concept, sculpted popcorn buckets that fans treat as limited-edition art. Now, that trend is officially migrating to professional sports.
“We’ve seen how much fans love a ‘moment’ they can take home,” says the design team at Golden Link Inc., the manufacturer behind the bucket. By leaning into the “gamification” of concessions, teams are finding new ways to engage younger fans who value “Instagrammable” experiences as much as the game itself.
The First of Many
The Timberwolves launch is reportedly just the opening tip-off. According to industry insiders, this “launcher” model is expected to be the first in a wave of interactive souvenir programs hitting NBA arenas across the country.
As teams look to boost “per-cap” spending and social media presence, don’t be surprised if your local arena’s popcorn bucket soon becomes the most talked-about player on the court.
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