-
Tim BontempsESPN
The Raptors will continue to play games at home in Tampa, Florida, for the rest of the 2020-21 NBA season, citing border restrictions and being “vigilant about public safety measures” in Toronto as factors preventing them from returning home to play in any moment this season.
“Florida has been truly welcoming to us and we are so grateful for the hospitality we found in Tampa and Amalie. [Arena] “We live in a city of champions and we intend to continue the tradition of winning for our new friends and fans here,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said on Thursday.
“But home is the heart and our hearts are in Toronto. We often think of our fans, our Scotiabank Arena family and all those who are missing from home and we can’t wait until we can all be together again. “
The Raptors spent weeks before the season working with Toronto to try to find a way to play games at home, only to have to eventually move to the United States.
At the time, the Raptors said they hoped to return to Toronto at some point later in the season and said the decision to move to Tampa was made in the first half of the season.
It became official for the entire season on Thursday.
The Toronto Blue Jays from baseball went through a similar process last summer, negotiating to play games at home before finally moving to Buffalo, New York, for the 2020 season.
After starting the season 2-8, the Raptors went 10-5 since then and scored 6-5 at Amalie Arena. They have a chance to reach .500 on Thursday night when they visit the Boston Celtics.