By Matt Veto
www.qconline.com
Eric Karls' days as a casual hockey fan were destroyed in a most positive way this season. His investment in the Quad City Mallards financially has also led to his investment in the team emotionally.
"There is a different intensity level when you are invested in the team, versus just being a fan," said the Mallards owner, in town for tonight's 7:05 Game 3 playoff clash with the Colorado Eagles at the i wireless Center. "There's a lot of pressure. I'm still enjoying it, though. I think I probably attended a dozen games this year, and I watched every game on CHL-TV."
What he has seen, he has liked – both on and off the ice. Karls believes he has witnessed the process of rebuilding a fan base. That rebuilding process was most evident in attendance numbers that began rising in February.
For the season, the Mallards averaged 2,870 fans per game, a mark that ranks them 13th in the 18-team Central Hockey League. However, from February on – the last 12 games of the season -- QC averaged 3,396 fans.
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