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Tim BontempsESPN
The Raptors will continue to play home games in Tampa, Florida, for the rest of the 2020-21 NBA season, citing boundary restrictions and ‘being aware of public safety measures’ in Toronto as factors that prevent them from returning home at any stage. then to play. this season.
‘Florida was very 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 supporters here,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a statement on Thursday.
“But the home is where the heart is, and our hearts are in Toronto. We often think of our fans, our Scotiabank Arena family and everyone we miss at home, and we can not wait until we can all be together. . again. ‘
The Raptors worked with the city of Toronto weeks before the season to find a way to play games at home, but to eventually have to move to the United States.
At the time, the Raptors said they hoped to be able to return to Toronto later in the season, and they said the decision to move to Tampa was only put in stone for the first half of the season.
It became official all Thursday on Thursday.
Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays underwent a similar process last summer, negotiating to play home games before finally moving to Buffalo, New York, for the 2020 season.
After starting the season 2-8, the Raptors have since gone 10-5 and they have a 6-5 score in Amalie Arena. They have a chance to get to 0.500 on Thursday night when they visit the Boston Celtics.