The Arizona Coyotes will furlough half of its staff through June 30 because of financial problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL franchise announced on Friday.
The team will cover 100% of the cost of health benefits for the furloughed employees.
Team spokesman Rich Nairn declined to disclose the number of affected employees.
The decision comes less than a month after Alex Meruelo, the billionaire team owner, on March 16 said he and his family had partnered with Gila River Arena to "support the arena's part-time and hourly employees previously scheduled to work the remaining Coyotes eight home games through the end of the NHL's regular season (April 4).