The Nuggets enter the NBA Playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference following a team-record 57-win season, and proof of "Nuggets Fever" is being seen by what fans "collectively have done with their actions, and their wallets, backing a team that has surprised many by doing so well without a superstar," according to a front-page piece by Christopher Dempsey of the DENVER POST. The Nuggets drew the "second-most fans in franchise history" to Pepsi Center this season. The demand for team merchandise is "at an all-time high," as Nuggets items at the Altitude Authentics store in the arena have "flown off the shelves." Kroenke Sports Enterprises Dir of Retail Operations Jon Waldron said, "This is my 15th year now, and it's the highest it's ever been." Dempsey reports a unique quality to the fan support is the "variety of jerseys being sold." There is "not the sight of person after person wearing" a jersey for former Nuggets stars Carmelo Anthony or Chauncey Billups. Instead, fans are wearing jerseys "honoring one of six or seven players on the team." The club's new gold jerseys "have been the fan's favorite." Meanwhile, local ratings on Altitude Sports & Entertainment were "up 25 percent over last season's average," including hikes of 89.8% over March '12 and 54.1% over last April (DENVER POST, 4/19).
