Stan Kroenke: What the Arsenal owner has done with his other sports teams during the coronavirus shutdown

Stan Kroenke (R) pictured with son and KSE vice-chairman Josh before a pre-season friendly between the Colorado Rapids and Arsenal in 2019
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
George Flood19 April 2020

Arsenal is one of many clubs located within the sporting portfolio of the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment group, owned by billionaire American businessman Stan Kroenke.

Denver-based KSE also own the NFL's Los Angeles Rams in addition to the NBA's Denver Nuggets, MLS franchise the Colorado Rapids and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.

As the Gunners look set to become the first Premier League club to agree a significant wage cut with their players during the coronavirus shutdown, how are those other teams under the KSE banner being impacted by the crisis?

Last month, KSE revealed in a statement that they had suspended all events at Colorado venues Pepsi Center, Paramount Theatre, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and 1STBANK Center for 30 days, while also pledging to pay their part-time and hourly employees for that same period.

“One of the many consequences of the pandemic is its effect on area businesses of all sizes,” KSE vice-chairman Josh Kroenke said. “Many companies – in particular the service industry – are temporarily laying off hard-working employees due to the cancellation of events amid an uncertain future.

"Our hourly KSE event staff plays an integral role in ensuring our fan experience is first class in every way, and it is with these thoughts in mind that KSE will continue to pay its part-time and hourly employees for the next 30 days. We also have asked our vendors and partners to do the same."

KSE also confirmed they would be continuing to work with Denver food recovery programme 'We Don’t Waste', helping to get food to those in need and making their own donation of six pallets of perishable items.

Events at Pepsi Center - home of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL franchise the Colorado Avalanche - were suspended last month
Getty Images

While the NBA, MLS and NHL are all currently suspended due to Covid-19, the 2020 NFL season is not scheduled to commence until September and the annual draft - originally due to take place in Las Vegas - is set to be an all-virtual affair, beginning on Thursday night.

However, teams' off-season programmes have been delayed indefinitely and facilities initially shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while the annual free agency period was heavily impacted and most pre-draft visits and pro days cancelled.

The Rams' training facilities are due to reopen this week for players rehabbing injuries after being shut for a fortnight following center Brian Allen's positive test for Covid-19, according to head coach Sean McVay.

Stan Kroenke has invested billions of dollars into the construction of the 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calfornia, a plush sports and entertainment complex which will house both the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and was due to open with a pair of Taylor Swift concerts on July 25 and 26.

The Los Angeles Rams are due to move into SoFi Stadium later in 2020
Getty Images

Those latter shows have now been postponed, though construction on the site - which began in 2016 - has reportedly continued.

California governor Gavin Newsom admitted last week that mass gatherings in the state - including at sporting events - were unlikely to take place at any point in the near future and would be considered "negligible at best until we get to herd immunity and we get to a vaccine".

So if SoFi Stadium does indeed still open in time for the 2020 NFL campaign, then there appears a very real prospect at this stage that games may have to be staged without fans in attendance.

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