Because travel into Canada has been banned due to the United States’ handling of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there is uncertainty in regards to where the Toronto Raptors are going to play their homes games during the 2020-21 season.
Multiple locations in the United States have been mentioned as possible landing spots for the Raptors, with the latest being Newark’s Prudential Center in New Jersey.
However, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Raptors are not only fighting hard to stay in Toronto for the 2020-21 season, but the NBA is working with governments in both Canada and the United States to make it happen.
The Raptors are fighting hard to stay in Toronto for the 2020-21 season, league sources told The Post.
Two weeks ago, The Athletic reported the possibility of the Raptors moving to Newark’s Prudential Center because of Canada’s strict quarantine rules stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other possible landing spots include sharing Barclays Center with the Nets, or playing in Kansas City, Mo., Seattle or the Tampa Bay area.
According to sources, those sites, including Newark, are long shots, and the likelihood of remaining in Toronto still is very much on the table.
The Raptors are the only team in the NBA that doesn't play their home games in the United States.
If Toronto is able to have its home games at Scotiabank Arena, which is Canada's premier sports and entertainment venue, there will likely be no fans allowed.
The 2020-21 NBA season will start on Dec. 22. The campaign will feature 72 games.
The situation with the Raptors and where their home games will be played is still a very fluid situation and we likely won't have a firm answer for a while.