The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they will create a compensation plan to pay Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse "event staff and hourly workforce" that will no longer be working Cavs home games in light of the NBA suspending its season amid ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
"Providing as safe and healthy of a work environment as possible for our organization and our visitors is our highest priority and the extensive precautionary and preventative measures being taken continue to be in place. At the same time, we are also developing a compensation plan to continue paying our event staff and hourly workforce that is impacted with the changes to our regular event schedule."The statement read as follows in part:
The news also comes after Cavs big man Kevin Love said that he is donating $100,000 through the Kevin Love fund to arena and support staff.
The Cavs had five more home games on the regular-season ledger, beginning March 24 against the Sacramento Kings. The final one was slated for Monday, April 13, versus the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announcedon Thursday that the season will be put on pause for 30 days at minimum but that it's " possible" the campaign doesn't resume.
The Cavs aren't the only team planning to pay arena staff, with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announcing on Wednesday that the Mavs would do so.