As coronavirus protocols limit public gatherings, many events are being postponed or canceled. Among those feeling the economic brunt of all this is one of the region’s largest crowd control and security service companies.
Crowd Management Services (CMS) generally employs 3,000 people across Oregon, Washington, and Montana. And during the summer, they employ closer to 5,000. That’s in an average year…which 2020 is not.
“It’s crazy. And once the big tours start canceling, it’ll be even more of a domino effect,” says Mike Schueller. He's the Oregon Operations Manager for CMS. Their clients include convention centers, colleges and universities, and rodeos.
Schueller says right now only he and six other salaried administrators are working. He’s hoping things turn around soon.
“Our concert season starts generally in May," he tells KLCC.
"The unfortunate part with the University of Oregon, is they’ve already canceled all the spring sports. So even if this was lifted say mid-April, baseball won’t continue, softball won’t continue. Track was already canceled because they're rebuilding Hayward Field.
"We have to get ready for the Olympic trials, which is a couple hundred (CMS) people a day over a ten-day period.”
When big crowd events cancel, neighboring shops, restaurants, and hotels also suffer the loss in business and jobs.
Copyright 2020, KLCC.
