In the face of so, so, SO many awful things going on in the world right now with coronavirus, at least there are some good things being done (like Shea Serrano paying people’s bills).
Some owners of pro sports teams have announced they will pay arena workers as if games were going on, despite the fact that the NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons. At least one athlete has gotten in on the act as well, which is huge for those facing a huge loss of income.
Here’s a partial list of people who have pledged to financially help (I may have missed some names, so please reach out and let me know!):
Mark Cuban
The Dallas Mavericks owner immediately started discussing putting a program in place to help employees as soon as the NBA announced the league was suspended.
“I reached out … to find out what it would cost to financially support people who aren’t going to be able to come to work.”
–Mark Cuban on his plan for Mavericks employees during the NBA suspension pic.twitter.com/McOl1vHUqO
— ESPN (@espn) March 12, 2020
Tony Ressler
The Atlanta Hawks owner had this to say to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“We have a pretty clear set of priorities in this kind of remarkable time that we’re living through,” Ressler said. “Protecting our fans, protecting our employees, and protecting the reputation of our league, all of which is important, but let there be no confusion, that means taking care of all of our employees, our full-time, our part-time.”
Joe Tsai
The Brooklyn Nets owner agreed with guard Spencer Dinwiddie and tweeted this on Thursday:
Hear hear @SDinwiddie_25 we’re working on a plan! https://t.co/bi01FXqS7V
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) March 13, 2020
Kevin Love and Dan Gilbert
The Cleveland Cavaliers forward donated $100,000, and the Cavs sent out a statement that said the organization was “also developing a compensation plan to continue paying our event staff and hourly workforce that is impacted with the changes to our regular event schedule.”
Thank you @kevinlove — coming through in the clutch 🙏
We’re behind you, as we also announced earlier today that we are compensating all of our @RMFieldHouse hourly and event staff team members as if every game and every event is still taking place!
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 12, 2020
Jody Allen
There was this report on Friday:
Source at Trail Blazers says organization is formulating plan to pay their part-time arena employees for the 9 home games canceled by the NBA because of COVID-19. They will reassess the program in 30 days.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) March 13, 2020
Josh Harris and David Blitzer
The New Jersey Devils owners are pitching in:
NJ owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer say they have committed to paying hourly/event staff for postponed @NJDevils games and Prudential Center events. “Employees are family…It’s important to band together and lift each other up during these times.”
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 13, 2020
Henry and Susan Samueli
The Anaheim Ducks owners will pay full and part-time staffers:
Henry and Susan Samueli, owners of the #NHLDucks/Honda Center, will continue to pay full and part-time staff members who were scheduled to work during the arena's shutdown through March 31, per spokesperson.
— Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) March 13, 2020
Ted Leonsis
The owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals will pay workers through the end of the month.
The owner of @MSE @WashWizards @Capitals –@TedLeonsis will pay his part time employees for all 16 events canceled at the @CapitalOneArena through the end of the month. pic.twitter.com/wAz9CrTtv7
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) March 13, 2020
Ted Leonsis informed Capital One Arena staff this morning that anyone scheduled to work an event – #Caps and Wizards games plus other events – through March 31 will be paid, a source tells me.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) March 13, 2020
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