Unemployed arena workers to feel the pinch of pandemic
Jonathan Crandall was looking forward to a busy March as a security guard at the Bell Centre.
The home of the Montreal Canadiens was set to host four more NHL games this month, the week-long world figure skating championships and a visit from the Harlem Globetrotters.
The money the 26-year-old Crandall earns during events helps pay the bills.
But with the Bell Centre now shut down — along with dozens of other venues across North America — amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Crandall is wondering how he will make ends meet.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot honestly,” the LaSalle, Que., resident said Friday. “Just cut back on spending. Only pay or buy essentials.”
It’s a question many part-time and event staff are wrestling with after the NHL, NBA, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, as well as a number of other professional and amateur leagues, shuttered operations in hopes of containing the novel coronavirus.
“It will affect people, there’s no doubt,” Crandall said. “All we can do is hope that this virus is contained and everyone stays safe.”
Crandall said he’s yet to hear from the Canadiens about what, if any, compensation might be available to part-time staff, but added it’s still early.
The team didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Canadian Press.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA’s Raptors, Toronto FC of MLS and other properties, unveiled a program to assist close to 4,000 part-time and event staff at Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field and Coca-Cola Coliseum.
MLSE says anyone affected by the temporary halt in operations will receive a payment to bridge employees between their employment insurance benefits and 95 per cent of their regular average earnings (the maximum allowed by Service Canada for them to be eligible for the full EI benefit) for four weeks — about the amount of time left on the original regular-season schedules for the Leafs and Raptors. The company says employees who do not qualify for EI benefits will be paid the equivalent MLSE top-up portion.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Vancouver Canucks and Rogers Arena, released a statement late Friday outlining its plans in broad strokes.
“CSE has committed to a program that will help any part-time employee who require support,” said Trent Carroll, chief operating officer. “The program will be based on individual need, to avoid financial hardship during this unexpected employment disruption.”
NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Love have each pledged US$100,000 in support of their team’s arena and support staff, while George Richards of The Athletic tweeted Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is putting up the same amount. Richards added Bobrovsky’s teammates will match that $100,000 and ownership will top up whatever else is necessary.
Some other NHL clubs, including the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks, have made it clear they will follow similar paths, but True North Sports & Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman, who runs the Winnipeg Jets, said Thursday his company’s part-time employees are out of luck.
“Those people are on part-time agreements,” Chipman said. “They work when we work. So, regrettably, to the extent that we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.”
A part-time usher at Winnipeg’s Bell MTS Place, who was granted anonymity by The Canadian Press because she said she signed a non-disclosure agreement with True North, thinks some employees are going to feel a severe pinch.
“It’s going to be a hardship,” the usher wrote in an email. “I alone have 10 shifts that I will be missing. I understand why and fully agree with the events being cancelled, but what do we do for funds?”
The Ottawa Senators didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, while Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation president and CEO John Bean, who runs the NHL’s Flames, said Thursday he has 250 full-time staff and 1,500 part-time staff, but didn’t offer specifics in terms of any compensation.
“They all have questions,” Bean said. “That’s who we’re really going to work closely with now and communicate with and make sure we can answer as many questions and give them as much guidance as we can.”
Speaking at a press conference in Edmonton on Friday, Oilers president of business operations Tom Anselmi said they’re still working through how best to help staff and game-day employees, and have begun talking to other teams.
“For the most part, nobody has a real plan yet. We’re all sort of thinking through it, but it’s important that we do think through it and do what’s right by our employees,” Anselmi said.
———