213,467 fans packed the “Duck Pond” in another record-setting season of Mallards baseball in 2011 (Photo by  Jim Addis).

By Matt Schneider, PR Intern

The Madison Mallards had another record-breaking season at the gates in 2011, drawing 213,467 fans to the “Duck Pond” for family fun and entertainment. Fans were treated to a great season of baseball, which saw the Mallards go 20-15 in the 35 home games. In all, an average of 6,278 people attended games, breaking the previous average of 6,116 set in 2008. In the 2008 season, the Mallards set the summer collegiate baseball single-season record by having a total attendance of 207,949. That number stood until this season when the Mallards broke their own previous record.

The “Duck Pond,” which can hold a capacity of 6,750 fans, was sold out 11 times this season, and 26 of the team’s 34 gates were of crowds over 6,000. The season-low attendance came on June 28 when 4,964 fans came to a double-header between the Mallards and the Wisconsin Woodchucks. That attendance would have been the season-high attendance for any other team in summer college baseball this season.

Fans always flock to the “Duck Pond” for not only baseball, but for the wide variety of promotions provided by the Mallards and their sponsors every season. This summer, promotions such as appearances by a Human Cannonball, WWE Legends Ted “The Million Dollar Man” Dibiase and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, TV’s Ken Osmond, and musical performances by “the Baseball Project,” the “Kissers,” and the “Hometown Sweathearts” drew fans to the gates. There were also five fireworks shows, seven bobblehead giveaways, Rhythm & Booms Night, and other collectible giveaways throughout the course of the season.

Of course, fans also came to the ballpark to check out the new $1.8 million renovations that the “Duck Pond” received over the past offseason.

2011 marked the sixth time in 11 seasons that the Mallards drew over 200,000 people to see “Baseball Like It Oughta Be.”

Mallards’ Attendance by Season
2001 – 31,166 (1,039 average)
2002 – 61,131 (1,973 average)
2003 – 136,751 (4,411 average)
2004 – 154,258 (4,976 average)
2005 – 195,105 (5,738 average)
2006 – 205,896 (6,056 average)
2007 – 205,606 (6,047 average)
2008 – 207,949 (6,116 average)
2009 – 205,377 (6,005 average)
2010 – 200,485 (6,075 average)
2011 – 213,467 (6,278 average)
TOTALS (11 seasons) 1,819,191 (5,039 average)

If attendance numbers stay close to where they have over the past six season, the Mallards will see fan number 2,000,000 in 2012!

Mallards win Northwoods League “Field of the Year” Award
After a poll taken by teams from around the Northwoods League, it has been voted that the “Duck Pond” and the Madison Mallards had the best playing surface in the entire league this season. In a summer filled with crazy weather patterns and plenty of rain, the new playing surface held its own and was maintained beautifully by the team, and visiting managers showed their appreciation of all of the team’s hard work by donning the “Duck Pond” “Field of the Year.”