More than half of arena workers in Detroit are living paycheck to paycheck and nearly a third reported living below the federal poverty line, according to the results of a survey conducted by Wayne State University.

The report, published in November, comes more than a year after Detroit City Council created an Industry Standards Board of Sports Arenas, a nine-member body tasked with investigating workplace conditions and making recommendations for improvements.

Porchá Perry sits on the board and, as an arena worker herself, said she is all too familiar with the report’s findings. Perry, a housekeeper and union stewardess, said jobs are seasonal and workers must piece together different gigs to bring in income, all while juggling medical bills and food and transportation costs.

“Sometimes we do feel unappreciated because we’re out here — rain, sleet, snow,” said Perry, a mom of two.

The Wayne State University report, prepared for the Industry Standards Board of sports arenas, highlights results from a survey conducted from August to October 2024 of workers at Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and Comerica Park. It covers a broad range of roles across the sector, including stagehands, maintenance, cleaning and gameday crew. The report notes that the results underrepresent Ford Field workers and security guards. More than 300 arena workers completed the survey, which had an estimated response rate of 10%.

Among the findings:

• Sixty-six percent of workers reported living paycheck to paycheck and 56% said they lived near or below the federal poverty line.
• On average, earnings ranged from roughly $14 an hour for gameday and cleaning staff, to about $20 for maintenance workers and nearly $26 for stagehands.
• Few arena workers who responded have employer-provided benefits, with 12% saying they have paid time off and leave and 18% reported having health insurance through the job.

“The survey revealed how low quality a lot of these jobs are,” said Kess Ballentine, an assistant professor at Wayne State University’s School of Social Work and the author of the report.

Downtown Detroit gets tens of thousands of visitors a month and its population has grown since 2010, according to the Downtown Detroit Partnership. In 2024, the Detroit Sports Commission found that sports events brought in tens of millions of dollars in visitor spending across southeast Michigan. The NFL draft in April of last year garnered $213.6 million in economic impact for the city of Detroit and the region, according to economist Patrick Rishe, director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis. More recently, Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group predicted that the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders playoff game last month would generate a $65 million economic boost for Detroit,

“We’re the ones that’s keeping arenas afloat,” Perry said.

Workers recommended improvements in wages, health insurance, job security and transportation. There isn’t a single employer for workers across the three Detroit arenas. The report references at least seven, for instance.

The Free Press reached out to Ilitch Holdings, Inc. for comments on the report’s findings. Ilitch Sports and Entertainment operates Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena. It is one of the several businesses that employs workers at its venues, “including students, retirees, and those seeking supplemental income in various sectors,” Ron Colangelo, senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said in a statement.

Ilitch Sports and Entertainment “provides exciting opportunities for a diverse, part-time, and seasonal workforce of all experience and skill levels at its world-class sports and entertainment venues. Whether it is a game, concert, theatrical production or family show, our colleagues tell us they appreciate flexible schedules, competitive pay, and a team atmosphere,” Colangelo said.

The Detroit Industry Standards Board for sports arenas has not thoroughly discussed the report yet, said E. Joseph Miller, chair of the board and business representative of IATSE Local 38, the union for stagehands and live event workers. The board will meet on Feb. 19.

“The survey is comprehensive and great, but we are still actively taking testimony from all the stakeholders in this conversation,” including employers, arena executives and workers, Miller said.

Editor’s note: Porchá Perry’s name was updated to correct the spelling.