Henry and Susan Samuelis Face Difficult Times

Photo: Google

By Michael Walters

Given the state of the world at the moment there have been difficult financial times for small businesses, but also for larger organizations. The Anaheim Ducks organization is no exception either.

Since the halt of the 2019-20 season, owners Henry and Susan Samuelis have been role models doing everything they can to help others. When the season was paused on March 12th, the Samuelis’ decided to continue to pay all of their part-time staff for days they were scheduled to work through the end of March. They then extended that arrangement through the end of June.

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This included all 2,100 part-time staff members of their sports and event management companies. It also included all programs and events at the nine ice and inline Rinks sports facilities, the Honda Center, the San Diego Gulls, and JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery.

For the season ticket holders, the owners extended ticket payments until mid-June. They also issued refunds for the canceled home games for the remainder of the season.

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The Honda Center has also become a place of hope. The owners have been working with Second Harvest Food Bank, which launched a weekly drive-through service at the Honda Center during the weekends. The organization has also been using part of the parking lot for wedding ceremonies.

The Samuelis’ have had to make several decisions and this week was no different.

On Monday a letter was sent out to the employees from the owners regarding the difficult decision that they have made. The owners initiated pay cuts ranging from 20 to 25 percent for their full-time staff who make $75,000 or more. This also affects full-time employees with the San Diego Gulls and The Rinks. About 500 employees across those businesses will be affected. Those who make under $75,000 would not have their salary lowered.

While pay cuts obviously aren’t ideal, the owners are hoping it will prevent layoffs and/or furloughs. The pay cuts are expected to last about six months.

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This event is bigger than the Anaheim Ducks and sport of hockey. It affects the entire sports industry and the world as a whole. Our sympathies and concerns go out to anyone affected by this worldwide incident. This will be a trying time for the world, but the triumph of the human spirit will get us through this.

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June 16th, 2020