WICHITA — Intrust Bank Arena has laid off five workers, which leaves 41 employees.
General manager A.J. Boleski calls it “obviously, a difficult decision to make.”
Cuts came from engineering, security, marketing and finance.
Last year, the new arena’s net operating income was $2,010,106.
It’s not on track to do that well this year.
“You know . . . it’s a tighter year,” Boleski says. “2011 is a different year than 2010 as it relates to the arena.”
Part of the issue, he says, is that last year was the arena’s inaugural year. That meant a big kickoff and more acts.
Also, Boleski says, the industry in general is slower right now.
“Therefore we need to tighten up expenses.”