Warriors to donate $1M to out-of-work Chase Center employees
SAN FRANCISCO — For more than 1,000 Chase Center workers — from security guards, ushers, custodians, vendors and more — help is on the way.
The Golden State Warriors’ owners, players and coaches will make a donation of $1 million to aid arena employees unable to work while the NBA season is suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
It was also announced Friday that the organization will create a community fund to which people can contribute to those affected by the shutdown of the NBA schedule and San Francisco’s ban on concerts and large assemblies. The money received by workers will be tax free.
After Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID19 Wednesday night, the NBA announced that the 2019-20 season would be suspended until further notice, putting the Warriors’ seven games remaining at Chase Center in peril.
The Warriors opened the $1.6 billion Chase Center last year in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood, moving the team from Oakland’s Oracle Arena nine years after Joe Lacob and Peter Guber’s ownership group bought the team in 2010 for $450 million. According to Forbes, the team is now valued at $4.3 billion.
Before the league suspended play, the Warriors announced they intended to play games in the arena without fans after the city banned events in which more than 1,000 people were assembled. That ban still applies to multiple concerts that have now been canceled. In all, it will cost the organization tens of millions of dollars.
“The last few days have been extremely challenging for all Bay Area citizens as we deal with the hourly changes in this unprecedented situation,” Lacob said in a statement. “Our players, coaches, ownership and management have been focused on creating a way to assist our part-time employees.
“We are addressing the potential hardships these hard-working individuals may encounter during this hiatus in the NBA season. While everyone and every business is impacted, those who are fortunate enough to be in a position to help, need to help.”