The Vegas Golden Knights are pledging a minimum of $500,000 to part-time and hourly gameday employees at T-Mobile Arena affected by the pause in the NHL’s season, the team announced Thursday.
Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is donating $100,000.
“Knights are the Epitome of the Warrior Class. Our foundational principles are centered on helping people in need and defending those who cannot defend themselves,” said Golden Knights owner Bill Foley in a statement provided by the team. “Make no mistake, these are uncertain and challenging times, especially here in the great city of Las Vegas. But we are all in this together and we will all persevere together. We hope these contributions can have a positive impact on many of the staff and their families who are affected. We want to do our part.”
In addition to aiding the gameday employees, this donation will aid the in-arena cast and crew — including in-arena hosts, the PA announcer, and more — zamboni drivers, and Golden Knights interns. The donation will cover the Golden Knights’ remaining home games; including Tuesday’s would-be game against the Dallas Stars, Vegas had four home games remaining in the regular season prior to the NHL suspending its season on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“A big part of what makes the Vegas Golden Knights game day experience so memorable is the staff working behind the scenes,” Fleury said in a statement provided by the team. “As players we truly appreciate all the employees who work so hard in making The Fortress the best place to play in the NHL. They are just as much a part of the Las Vegas community as we are.
“My family and I hope that these contributions not only help those in need, but also inspire others who are in fortunate positions to step up and find ways to help too. We can’t wait to see the employees and our fans again soon.”
At the time of suspending play, the Golden Knights were first place in the Pacific Division. As it stands, the NHL is planning to resume the season at some point, but with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending all mass gatherings of at least 50 people be canceled for the next eight weeks, the earliest the league could resume play would be mid-May.