Breaking News: "Toronto" Raptors to Play Rest of the Season in Tampa
"(Toronto's) our home, that's where we play, that's our home city, the country we play for, at the end of the day, 'Toronto Raptors' is on the front of our jersey, we play for that."
The Raptors will remain in Tampa, Florida for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA regular season. This news was initially announced last week, which means no basketball games are likely to be played in Canada this year. The scheduling and arrangements were finalized today.
The news isn't surpring to anyone given the strict Canada-United States border restrictions and travel limitations due to the pandemic. Toronto fans will have to cheer for the "home" team from 1,335 miles (2,148 kilometers) away.
The good news about this arrangement, if there's such a thing is – the Raptors have settled into a groove in recent weeks after starting the season poorly. After a last-place showing early in the year, the Raptors are 6-5 at home (in Tampa) and just 3 games under .500, which with more than half the season still to play gives them time to turn things around.
Raptors President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri said the team is happy to play home games in Florida, but added "our hearts are in Toronto." His statement on behalf of the team:
"Florida has been really welcoming to us and we're so grateful for the hospitality we've found in Tampa and at Amalie – we're living in a city of champions, and we intend to carry on the tradition of winning for our new friends and fans here. But home is where the heart is, and our hearts are in Toronto. We think often of our fans, of our Scotiabank Arena family, and all those we are missing back home, and we can't wait until we can all be together again."
Kyle Lowery added:
"(Toronto's) our home, that's where we play, that's our home city, the country we play for, at the end of the day, 'Toronto Raptors' is on the front of our jersey, we play for that."
