Amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the NHL and the NBA to end the year, MLSE, the company that owns the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs, have made a big decision. In a statement, MLSE announced that starting on Friday, all ticket sales in Scotiabank Arena will be stopped for at least three weeks.
Here's their full statement on the matter: (via Calgary Herald)
“MLSE venues, including Scotiabank Arena for upcoming Toronto Maple Leaf and Raptors games and other events, will transition to operating without any sold tickets effective Friday, except for league and team requirements up to 1,000 per game as we continue to work together in the fight against COVID-19,” MLSE said.
“It is expected that these limits will be in place for the next three weeks, at which time the province has indicated they will reassess restrictions. Maple Leafs and Raptors season seat members will receive follow-up information within the next 24 hours as ticketing details are finalized. We look forward to hosting fans again as soon as the province deems it safe to do so.”
Both the Raptors and the Maple Leafs have been affected strongly by the recent COVID-19 wave, as the NBA and NHL were hit hard. The Raptors, in particular, have had their roster decimated to bits, as key players like Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes tested positive recently. The aforementioned players are returning soon, though, bringing relief to Toronto sports fans.
In the end, while fans might not like MLSE's decision to shut down ticket sales temporarily, it's for the best. The safety of the fanbase is much more important than revenue for both MLSE, the NBA and the NHL. If all goes well, everything will go back to normal in three weeks time for Toronto fans in Canada.