Bruins Are Last NHL Team To Say They Will Pay Part-Time Workers

BOSTON, MA — The ownership group for the Boston Bruins became the last NHL team Saturday to announce plans to pay part-time workers during the league's coronavirus shutdown.

Delaware North, the Jeremy Jacobs family company that owns the team, is establishing a $1.5 million fund to pay part-time arena employees for the hours missed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The team had been criticized for waiting several days after other professional sports teams announced contingency plans for workers after the league suspended its season last week.

"This is really troubling," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a Twitter post Thursday. "Delaware North owns the Bruins, and it's the only organization in the NHL that hasn’t announced financial support to game day employees. These wages will make a huge difference to hourly workers at the Garden. I hope the Jacobs family will act soon."

Earlier this week, fans had started contributing to a GoFundMe campaign for the workers. The fundraising effort was promoted by several NHL players on social media. Several Bruins players made contributions to the campaign.

Delaware North also owns TD Garden. The Boston Cletics, the building's other tenant, said Monday they would pay part-time employees through the NBA shutdown.