Tampa Bay is getting an NBA team — at least for this season.
The Toronto Raptors announced Friday that the team will begin its season in Tampa playing at Amalie Arena due to restrictions on cross-border travel.
“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,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “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.”
The team had asked for an exemption from the Canadian government to allow it to travel across the U.S.-Canada border without requiring a 12-day quarantine period. Since NBA training camps begin in less than two weeks, the team chose to start the season in Tampa. There is a possibility the government will announce a decision in 2021.
The MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays faced a similar situation for their 2020 season. Ultimately, the Blue Jays played home games in Buffalo, New York, even though Dunedin was on the table.
While the Raptors’ stay in Tampa will be temporary, this could show the viability of having an NBA presence in Tampa Bay. Games will also be broadcast from Amalie Arena, giving Tampa some TV time. The NBA is the only major sports league that does not have a team in Tampa Bay. Florida is home to two NBA teams: the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
“The Toronto Raptors and their fans will not be disappointed here in Tampa Bay,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “Not only do we have the Stanley Cup Champion Lightning, the World Series runner-up Rays and the powerhouse Buccaneers, we’re going to have a chance to watch the magic of the Toronto Raptors play right here in our backyard. And although things may look a bit different this season, we look forward to cheering you on.”
The NBA is slated to start its regular season just before Christmas, with games starting on Dec. 22.
