Toronto Raptors to continue playing at home in Tampa for the remainder of the season

The Raptors will continue to play home games in Tampa, Fla. For the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season, citing border restrictions and being “aware of public safety measures” in Toronto as factors preventing them from returning. at home to play anytime. this season.

“Florida has been very welcoming to us and we are very grateful for the hospitality we have found in Tampa and at Amalie’s [Arena] – we live in a city of champions, and we intend to carry on the tradition of winning for our new friends and fans here, ”Raptors President Masai Ujiri said in a statement on Thursday.

“But home is where the heart is, and our hearts are in Toronto. We often think of our fans, our Scotiabank Arena family, and all those we miss at home, and we can’t wait to be able to all be together. again.”

The Raptors spent weeks before the season working with the City of Toronto to try to find a way to play games at home, only to have to move to the United States.

At the time, the Raptors said they were hopeful they could return to Toronto later in the season, and they said the decision to move to Tampa was only set in stone for the first half of the season.

It became official for the entire season on Thursday.

The baseball Toronto Blue Jays went through a similar process last summer, negotiating to play home games before finally moving to Buffalo, New York, for the 2020 season.

After starting the 2-8 season, the Raptors have gone 10-5 since, and they have a 6-5 mark at Amalie Arena. They are lucky enough to get to .500 Thursday night when they visit the Boston Celtics.