Kroenke to pay arena employees during shutdown

DENVER (AP):

Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche ownership Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) says it will pay its part-time and hourly employees impacted by the cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak for the next 30 days.

The company also is calling on its vendors and partners to do the same.

“It is a very trying time for our tight-knit sports community, but more important for human beings in general,” KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke said in a statement Saturday night.

KSE has suspended all events at the Pepsi Center, home of the Nuggets and Avalanche, Paramount Theatre, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids, and the 1STBANK Center for 30 days.

“We look forward to seeing all of our fans back in our venues at the appropriate time!” Kroenke said. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Kings, along with Staples Center, have joined together to set up a fund to provide financial help to all hourly arena workers impacted by the stoppage of games.

The fund will help compensate for lost wages through the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons. Payments will go to over 2,800 workers, including ushers, ticket sellers and takers, security, parking attendants, merchandise staff, food and beverage employees, housekeeping, operations staff and stagehands.