READING, Pa. – Inside the Santander Arena, jerseys were on, tickets were in hand and playoff excitement was in the air.
The Reading Royals hosted their first home playoff game of this postseason Wednesday night.
For Eric Martin and his wife, it was a first.
“This is actually my first-ever hockey game attending in general,” Martin said. “Definitely excited for my wife and I to come out and experience it and get some playoff action.”
Martin recently moved into the Reading community through his work at Albright College.
“We started the women’s flag football program at Albright College,” Martin said. “It’s great to support other athletic programs professionally, collegiately, etc., in the area.”
For Mathew Reichl of West Lawn, the game doubled as a birthday celebration with his daughters.
“It’s my 41st birthday, and we’re coming to see the first week of the playoffs for the Reading Royals,” Reichl said.
Across town at Trooper Thorns, owner Jacqueline Trapp said sports nights usually mean more customers walking through the door.
“Anytime there’s sports here, it’s a good thing,” Trapp said.
She said when local teams are playing well, the place fills up early.
“When it comes down to seeing your sports team doing well, there’s going to be a crowd,” Trapp said.