Steamwheelers owners working to end impasse
Mike Bawden won’t tell you all is well with the Quad-City Steamwheelers.
He will say he expects all to be well — for the remainder of this season and into 2009 — sometime soon.
“All has not been well all season,’’ Bawden said. “The difference is we are actually moving forward to make it well.’’
Last fall’s negotiated purchase of controlling interest of the Steamwheelers from Bawden’s Friday Night Football LLC to a group headed by Alan Millage and Joe Sisler never quite got completed, Bawden said, but he indicated both sides are continuing to pursue a buyout.
Meanwhile, the 9-year-old arenafootball2 franchise continues to fight to meet its financial obligations for 2008, while its 7-6 football team battles to reach the postseason.
Bawden said the franchise has not yet booked a flight to Spokane, Wash., where the Steamwheelers are scheduled to play a week from Saturday.
He said he plans to receive from Friday Night Football investors the $20,000 to $22,000 needed to book that flight sometime today.
He confirmed the team will not have local radio coverage of that West Coast game but said efforts are being made to ensure the team’s game vs. Iowa in Des Moines on Saturday will be broadcast on WOC-AM 1420 along with its regular-season finale July 24 vs. Lexington at the i wireless Center.
“A lot of things are four to five days away from having firm decisions,’’ Bawden said. “Right now, it is just not exactly clear what is going to happen.’’
One thing Bawden stressed will happen is that the Steamwheelers will take the field for the remainder of this season and, given the opportunity, through the playoffs, likely under the control of Friday Night Football.
Progressing with input from the league is a renegotiated sale to A&J Football Inc., the Millage and Sisler-led group that has continued to be involved in team operations this season — although not, Bawden said, to the financial extent he originally had anticipated.
Bawden re-assumed operating control in February and said that move created “some friction and tension. We have been trying to work through that, and I think we finally are getting there. Alan Millage has been a tremendous help in that regard.’’
Millage declined comment Tuesday, indicating there might be news in the coming weeks.
“We’re going forward with the season — that’s all I am going to say at this point,’’ he said.
League president Jerry Kurz confirmed his office has been talking with both groups.
“I think the parties came to impasse,’’ he said of problems surrounding the original agreement. “But it’s like they say — every good deal dies three times. It didn’t work out the way everyone envisioned.’’
But Kurz said, “I have no doubt both groups are committed to doing their best for the community and their fans. I don’t believe beyond this season they will be able to do it together.’’
Bawden he said he also is talking to at least one other party to make the best deal for his group’s investors but indicated Millage and Sisler are likely to assume control.
“A&J today is different than when I first negotiated with them in September,’’ Bawden said. “There are more guys involved, and I am assuming there is more capital.’’
Said Kurz, “I fully expect the team to operate for years to come.’’
Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.