After Zion Williamson pledged to cover the salaries of Smoothie King Center employees for 30 days, New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson announced via press release on Monday that she would establish an Arena Assistance Fund to help cover wages of arena and Pelicans employees.
From the press release:
Separately from the $1 million contribution to start the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund, Benson will establish an Arena Assistance Fund for those who are impacted by the NBA postponement of games. Noting that the employees at the arena are not all Pelicans employees, the policy and implementation of the fund will be in coordination with the Louisiana Stadium Exposition District (LSED) and ASM New Orleans. Furthermore, all wages for Pelicans employees who work game days only will be guaranteed for the remaining postponed games.
Benson’s move comes after a host of other franchises did the same late last week and over the weekend. The Clippers and Lakers, Bucks, Cavaliers and Hawks, among others, all committed to cover wages of their team and/or arena employees. Individually along with Williamson, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Giannis Antetokounmpo all pledged money to help employees as well.
Reports on Sunday suggested that NBA owners and executives were expecting the league to be suspended until at least June. Paired with Sunday’s recommendation from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention that all events with at least 50 people be banned for eight weeks and the return of the NBA appears further and further away.
