The Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors take part in a shoot around before an NBA preseason basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Just like last year, the Toronto Raptors are opening the season at home, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and every available ticket for the game has been sold. Due to the coronavirus, the Toronto Raptors are going to play at least the start of the 2020-21 NBA season in Tampa Bay, Florida. When the Raptors made the unavoidable decision to begin the 2020-21 season in Tampa, the hope was always that they would be back in the familiar confines of Toronto… The Raptors had been looking at other sites for several weeks, including Sunrise, Florida, … The Raptors haven’t had a home game since a 99-96 loss to Charlotte on Feb. 28, and there’s no telling when Toronto fans will be able to see their 2019 NBA champions again. The Tampa Bay Titans say hello. And entirely different. The Toronto Raptors announced Friday that the team will begin its season in Tampa … We hope so. TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors will start the NBA season next month in Tampa, Florida, because of travel restrictions by the Canadian government stemming from the pandemic. The Canadian government has denied a request by the NBA and the Raptors to play in Toronto amid the pandemic, so the team will begin the 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida. And they pulled it off — just barely. Up 3,200 fans will be allowed for preseason games and 3,800 for the regular season, which begins Dec. 23 against New … A limited number of fans will be allowed inside the venue. The Toronto Raptors had one month to create a practice facility inside a luxury hotel in downtown Tampa. The NBA team said Thursday the team will complete its home schedule at Amalie Arena after initially announcing in November it would play half its home games in Tampa before making a decision on the second half of the season. The Raptors, who won the NBA Finals in 2019, aren't the only team that couldn't secure approval. Tampa Bay is getting an NBA team — at least for this season. So for now, we say hello to the brand new Tampa Bay Raptors. The Toronto Raptors plan to start the 2020-21 season in Tampa, Fla., after the Canadian government denied a request by the NBA and the team to play in Toronto amid the COVID-19 pandemic. TAMPA, Fla. - The Toronto Raptors aren’t going back to Toronto this season. The N.B.A.’s Toronto Raptors are in Tampa, Fla., this season because of the pandemic, but they’re not the only pro basketball team in town. If not Toronto, Raptors reportedly leaning toward playing in Tampa Bay By Kurt Helin Nov 13, 2020, 8:16 AM EST Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday that they will continue playing their home games in Tampa this season due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Canada. The Toronto Raptors are heading south for the winter — at least for the start of it. The Raptors announced Friday that they would begin the 2020-21 season based in Tampa… Fans and Raptors brass alike were hopeful that the team could start the 2020-2021 season in Toronto, but Canada's federal government forbade it due to cross-border quarantine rules. TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors will play host to the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 23 in their NBA season opener in their temporary home of Tampa, Fla. The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday that they will finish the 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida — could this city have Stanley Cup Champs, Super Bowl Champs, and NBA Champs? Fast facts on Amalie Arena, the temporary home arena of the Toronto Raptors. Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives around Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in Tampa… The Toronto Raptors boarded a flight to Tampa Bay today as they prepare for the start of what is sure to be another bizarre season. A city that is home to the Lightning (recent NHL champs), Rays (Finalists in World Series), and the Buccaneers (currently 7-3). TAMPA, Fla. — Toronto Raptors fans might be a little disappointed they won’t be seeing their team in person anytime soon due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. TAMPA, Fla. - Just like last year, the Toronto Raptors are opening the season at home, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and every available ticket for the game has been sold. Ongoing challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic and how that affects the process of crossing the border between the U.S. and Canada will keep the Raptors in their adopted Tampa, Florida, home for the remainder of the regular season, the team said Thursday. TAMPA — Tampa could become the temporary home of the NBA’s Raptors if the team can’t play next season in Canada due to the country’s coronavirus travel restrictions. TAMPA, Fla. — Roughly three weeks ago, Tampa sports organizers first heard from the Toronto Raptors about temporarily relocating the team to the bay area for the beginning of the NBA season. TAMPA, Fla. - Amalie Arena in Tampa will begin playing host to the Toronto Raptors and tickets for those home games went on sale Thursday morning. Here's all you need to know about the team's temporary home arena. The Raptors may be gearing up to start the 2020-2021 NBA season in Florida due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, but they're still the Toronto Raptors... in Tampa.. There are about 60 employees who moved from Toronto to Tampa, some with families, some without. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com for the first 12 games. Toronto Raptors to keep calling Tampa home for rest of NBA season. The Raptors are playing their home games in Tampa as a result of Canada's strict travel regulations stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays played its 2020 regular-season in Buffalo. Because of ongoing border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and mindful of public safety measures in Canada, the team has decided they will continue to play their home games at Amalie Arena. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Just like last year, the Toronto Raptors are opening the season at home, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and every available ticket for the game has been sold. The Raptors may be playing out the rest of the season in Tampa, Fla., but Kyle Lowry says that doesn't change the fact that the team still plays for Toronto and Canada. TAMPA, Fla. — The Toronto Raptors will play all their home games in Tampa, Fla., this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some arena workers in Toronto, who obviously haven’t had their game-night jobs … It's Official; Toronto Raptors To Play 2020-21 Season In Tampa - Tampa, FL - "The Toronto Raptors and their fans will not be disappointed here in Tampa Bay," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions between Canada and the United States, the Raptors will start the 2020-21 NBA season in Tampa, Florida. Tampa will be home for the Raptors this season, as the Canadian government denied their request for an exception to the country’s 14-day quarantine law during the pandemic. The Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat tip off to start during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. TAMPA, Fla. — Just like last year, the Toronto Raptors are opening the season at home, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and every available ticket for the game has been sold. ... at the same end of the court as the Raptors’ bench. It’s exactly the same. Raptors gather in Tampa with training set to start Back to video It’s not ideal, but safety has to trump all. Tipoff in Tampa: Toronto Raptors release first half of their 2020-21 schedule The Raptors will increase available seating to 3,800 fans once the regular season begins and …