Tigers Ownership Paying Part-Time Event Staffers During Shutdown Should Be the Template for All Owners
By Sean Facey
The shutdown of baseball operations across the MLB touches the lives of more than just the players and fans. There are countless employees from each of the 30 teams that work to make sure games are played without a hitch who are suddenly out of a job through no fault of their own.
But in an act of good will, Illitch Holdings, the onwership group of the Detroit Tigers, has announced that it will continue to pay part-time employees in the midst of the league's suspension.
Ilitch Holdings announces it has set up a $1 million fund to cover a month's wages for part-time game and event staff who lost work due to coronavirus cancellations and postponements, including Lakeland staff for six canceled Spring Training games.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) March 13, 2020
The fund they've set up will have $1 million available for staffers who were put out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. Players and teams from other sports have taken similar initiatives.
It's this type of generosity that should be the standard model for owners across all sports. These people do the necessary jobs that make games and events enjoyable for the fans. It's time for those more than wealthy enough to help to show just how valuable these employees really are.
Cavs will compensate all hourly and event staff members at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as if every game and every event were taking place. https://t.co/xci2FKPzHM
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 13, 2020
These people are the lifeblood of the business of sports. As such, they deserve to be taken care of when unprecedented circumstances rob them of a chance to make a living.