A cash flow problem for the Quad City Mallards. KWQC has learned that some staff members were not paid for a few days last week, because the team ran out of money.
Managing Partner John Prutch tells us last week they ran into some late payment issues, but says fans should not panic. He admitted that for a few days, they had a payroll shortage for the players and staff.
Prutch attributes the cash flow problems to the fact that the Quad City Mallards have been losing a lot of money and a schedule that has had the team on the road.
From January 18 to February 3, the Mallards only played one home game within those 16 days. That home game was on January 22, so from January 18 to February third the mallards haven't been home and haven't had any source of revenue.
That one home game during the traveling stretch was a Sunday game, which Managing Partner, John Prutch, told us on Friday, are typically "so-so" days for attendance. "Tuesday nights are terrible, Saturday nights are great, then Friday and Sundays are in between," said John Prutch.
Prutch says during that time they lost money and had run into insufficient funds, because they weren't bringing in fans to the ice arena. When asked about overall attendance at games, his answer was blunt. "Just, not enough," said Prutch.
Upon returning to the arena after their long road trip, the Mallards didn't practice for two days, creating speculation. But Prutch tells us that the coach had given them a few well-deserved days off.
On Tuesday, Prutch told KWQC that all in all this payment issue is "not a serious one" and the Mallards are doing fine.
"No we're not going anywhere, the Mallards aren't going anywhere. When we stepped in last year we knew we had a tough road ahead of us," said Prutch.
He says the owners are not going to give up on the team; it's just going to take time to get back on their feet.
"I think it's going to take us being here a couple of years, as ownership. And I think that consistency is going to drive home to a lot of people," said Prutch.
