The New York Knicks are finally taking action. The MSG Group will pay employees through at least May 3 amid current work stoppages due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a note sent to event staff.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv also reported they have established a relief fund to assist employees in need.
In note sent to event staff, MSG said it will pay workers at its multiple venues at minimum thru 5/3. A relief fund has also been established to help employees in need w/$1 million donation from MSG, $1 million from Dolan Family Foundation and $300,000 from MSG management team.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 28, 2020
The Knicks and Rangers (both part of MSG) were among the final franchises to respond to the query of paying event staff and arena employees. Although Knicks owner James Dolan hinted MSG planned to do as much a couple weeks ago. That was following a series of negative advertisements aimed at Dolan by the BIG3 basketball league.
Via Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The advertisement comes at a time when Dolan has agreed to compensate Garden workers for this week’s missed Big East Tournament games and future Knicks and Rangers games, according to a Garden source.
“We’ve already taken immediate action this week and are working on a longer-term plan,’’ a Garden source told The Post.
The Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers were among the first teams to say they would pay employees in full during the stoppage. Although other franchises were more hesitant.
However, the Philadelphia 76ers' initial statement about cutting payment and potentially laying off workers was met with a ton of backlash. Which ultimately put pressure on the Sixers to reconsider while encouraging other teams and owners to pay their employees.
Top league officials–including Adam Silver and Mark Tatum–in the NBA are also taking pay cuts in an effort to redistribute funds to employees. And some players–like Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid–have said they will pay out of pocket to assist the effort.
MSG took their time in developing a plan, though it seems they have hashed out a strategy for paying employees.
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