Financial disaster: Pioneers Vorarlberg report almost a million minus!

Financial disaster: Pioneers Vorarlberg report almost a million minus!

Vorarlberg, Österreich - The Pioneers Vorarlberg from Win2day Ice Hockey League faces significant financial challenges. In the game year 2023/24 they recorded a minus of 928,477.90 euros, such as the New Vorarlberger daily newspaper reported. Despite the financial pressure, the Pioneers managed to reach the playoff quarter-finals for the first time since he started league in 2022. There, however, they failed after six games against the Kac.

Despite the losses, the association shows further development. In the pre-playoffs, the Pioneers defeated HC Innsbruck, which illustrates the team's fighting spirit. Between the seasons 2022/23 and 2023/24, they have spent a total of around 1.77 million euros more than taken.

Financial uncertainty and personnel changes

The financial situation of the Pioneers remains worrying. Private capital deposits, especially by President Pit Gleim, were needed to cover the debts. The association has not published any official information in the past few weeks, the last article on its homepage dates from April 2. This reported on a realignment in the squad, in which most import players were separated.

Another important point is the coaching question. Dylan Stanley, the former head coach, has left the club and is now working as an assistant coach at HC Davos. Johannes Nygard will be traded as the future main trainee, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.

Kader-Engpass and Sponsoring

Current contractual relationships in the squad show big gaps, especially in the storm there are only two players, Julian Metzler and Ben Summer. Goalkeeper David Madlener and Alex Caffi have valid contracts by the end of the 2025/26 season, as well as some defenders. The unclear financial perspective requires strategies to minimize the risks. Questions about the long -term living capacity of the project remain open because the Pioneers are faced with empty halls and sunken income.

Although the main sponsor Bemer was on board in the 2023/24 season, the sponsorship situation of numerous ice hockey clubs in Germany is described as challenging. Due to months without game practice and ghost games, the income was significantly reduced. Large clubs such as the Cologne Haie and Krefeld penguins have difficulty setting their bills. These circumstances illustrate the decisive role of the sponsors for the financial stability of the clubs and underline the importance of local companies in this crisis situation.

The next season of the ICE Hockey League begins on September 12th, and it remains to be seen how the Pioneers Vorarlberg will be preparing for the upcoming challenges.