Raptors Announce New Home For Next Season

BYAlexander Cole3.0K Views
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Toronto Raptors
COVID-19 has forced the Raptors to move down South.

Due to the Coronavirus, the NBA had to get creative this past season as they brought 22 teams into a bubble format in Orlando. This turned out to be a massive success for the league as not a single player or staff member was diagnosed with the virus. Now, the NBA is gearing up to resume play on December 22nd, where teams will be allowed to play in their own markets.

Unfortunately for the Toronto Raptors, this is simply not possible as the Canada-US border remains closed. Over the past few weeks, there were negotiations into where the Raptors would play next, and some though Louisville or Buffalo were the most likely options. Today, Raptors team president Masai Ujiri announced that they would actually be playing in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Raptors Announce New Home For Next Season
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Per Masai Ujiri:

“The Raptors worked diligently with public health officials at the local, provincial and federal level to secure a plan that would permit us to play our 2020-21 season on home soil and on our home court at Scotiabank Arena. These conversations were productive, and we found strong support for the protocols we put forward. Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida.”

While this will certainly be an adjustment for the Raptors, the team is urging their fans to continue supporting the team, even if they have to do it from afar. It's not an ideal situation, but such is life in 2020.

[Via]


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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