Players, staff, the Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Pegula Sports and Entertainment will help pay the lost wages of game day arena employees if the COVID-19 pandemic forces games to be canceled.
PSE owner and CEO Kim Pegula made the announcement Saturday, three days after the NHL suspended its season indefinitely as more coronavirus cases were confirmed throughout the country.
PSE also owns the Rochester Americans and two National Lacrosse League teams: the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks.
“They are part of our PSE family and even though we expect that the games will be played, we want to assure them they will be paid in the even that is not the case,” Pegula said in a statement.
So far, zero games have been canceled at KeyBank Center or Blue Cross Arena The Sabres have six home contests left this season; the Amerks have seven home games remaining and could qualify for the AHL playoffs if the season resumes.
Some teams from the NHL and NBA, which suspended its season Wednesday after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus, have pledged to pay hourly employees during the stoppage.
The Sabres were scheduled to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.