CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The United Center, the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks announced they will pay game-day employees through the remainder of the originally scheduled sports season amid its suspensions due to coronavirus.
In a statement issued by United Center owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Rocky Wirtz, the teams said the 1,200 employees will be paid and called them family during the difficult time.
"Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together," read the statement.
The NBA was first to suspend its season Wednesday, setting the precedent for other leagues after two Utah Jazz star players reported feeling unwell and later tested positive. The NHL followed Thursday. The Bulls, which are owned by Reinsdorf, have seven home games remaining on their schedule while Wirtz's Blackhawks have 11.
The Bulls and Blackhawks are among a handful of teams in both leagues who have made similar pledges to pay employees for missed games. Across the NBA, superstars like Zion Williamson, Kevin Love and Giannis Antetokounmpo have pledged to donate some of their salaries to arena employees who are losing out on money due to canceled games.
As all major sports teams and games have joined in on the mass cancelations, many wonder what this means for the future of professional sports during the coronavirus shutdown. It also has people wondering about the Olympics, set to take place this summer in Tokyo. But The Associated Press reported there is no "Plan B" so far from the International Olympic Committee as of Feb. 14.
