Open Thread: Spurs put together half a million dollars for hourly and part-time employees during pandemic shutdown

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Taking care of our own from the most celebrated to the lowest paid, each one is deserving.

As previously mentioned, many of the workers in NBA arenas around the country are currently without a source of income. I recently spoke with a friend of mine whose wife works at the AT&T Center.

Even with their two individual paychecks, he estimated that his household could be short “30-35% of our family’s income.” He mentioned they were lucky as there are “other AT&T workers whose families will be impacted much harder. I can think of a couple of single people and one single mom who will be crushed.”

It has been noted that many players have stepped up donating $100,000 toward their arena staff. Zion Williamson has generously offered to pay the salaries of the Smoothie King Center employees for 30 days.

And yesterday, Spurs Sports and Entertainment shared this press release:

Spurs Sports & Entertainment has announced the formation of a fund totaling over $500,000 that will ensure that the organization’s part-time employees will be paid through the end of the San Antonio Spurs and San Antonio Rampage seasons.

“As San Antonio feels the ripple effects of the difficult decisions we have all had to make because of this global pandemic, we know that few will feel this more than the members of our community who rely on hourly and part-time employment to take care of their families,” said SS&E Chairman Peter J. Holt. “Spurs Sports & Entertainment is a values-based organization, and taking care of our entire staff – both full time and part time – was never a question of ‘if’, but of ‘how’. I’m pleased to say that after spending the last few days examining every option together, our leadership team has found a way to ensure that these invaluable members of the SS&E Family will be provided for.”

The impact of the funding is not lost on those who make a living during the Spurs season.

We will continue to update with the goodwill and generosity of those who are supporting the many who make these events what they are.

Humanity is needed right now in a big way, not just in the basketball world, but the world over. I know we all see it, locally and on a larger scale. We can all be the good news that someone needs.

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Open Thread: Spurs put together half a million dollars for hourly and part-time employees during pandemic shutdown
Open Thread: Spurs put together half a million dollars for hourly and part-time employees during pandemic shutdown