Raptors fans across Canada B次元官网网址� and beyond B次元官网网址� are gearing up for MondayB次元官网网址檚 potentially championship-clinching Game 5 in Toronto.
Viewing parties across the country are expanding as the Raptors look to make history by claiming their first NBA title against the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Toronto leads the series three games to one after taking the last two on the WarriorsB次元官网网址� home court in Oakland, Calif.
Outdoor public viewing spaces that have popped up across the country are expected to expand to accommodate the ever-growing crowds gripped by Raptors fever.
In Halifax, Gab LeVert has been organizing block parties throughout the final round of the playoffs, and says the crowds have grown larger every game.
B次元官网网址淔or Game 4 on a sunny Friday in Halifax, I donB次元官网网址檛 think anyone could have expected what happened. We had hundreds of people overflowing into the streets because we were at maximum capacity,B次元官网网址� LeVert said.
B次元官网网址淓veryone was respectful, but everyone was so happy to be a RaptorsB次元官网网址� fan.B次元官网网址�
That's a good question. |
B次元官网网址� Toronto Raptors (@Raptors)
An event in Regina is moving to Mosaic Stadium, home of the CFLB次元官网网址檚 Saskatchewan Roughriders, after an estimated 2,500 fans turned out to watch Game 4 at City Square Plaza downtown on Friday.
According to the football club, the venueB次元官网网址檚 MaxTron screen is not only the largest screen in Canada, at over 630 square metres B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 even bigger than a standard NBA basketball court.
In Mississauga, Ont., crowds have increased at Celebration Square, where police say about 25,000 people turned out to watch Game 4.
The outdoor viewing spaces are aimed at creating local versions of Jurassic Park, the tailgating area outside Scotiabank Arena that brings hordes of frenzied fans to every Raptors game.
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On Saturday morning, a father and son from Stoney Creek, Ont., were prepared to spend two nights in line to ensure they got a spot.
Twenty-year-old Zac Tiessen and 55-year-old Doug Tiessen call themselves B次元官网网址渃razy fansB次元官网网址� who also see the trip as an opportunity to bond.
They said camping out at Jurassic Park is how they will make up for the time they couldnB次元官网网址檛 do a father-son trip to Africa because Doug was stricken with Lyme disease.
B次元官网网址淭his is a healing moment for us to be able to spent a really special moment and to make up for that trip we didnB次元官网网址檛 get to do,B次元官网网址� said Zac.
Wearing his late grandfatherB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渧intageB次元官网网址� Raptors hat, Zac said he and his dad packed three bags of groceries, five books, a dozen bottles of water and an iPad.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always wanted to make it to Jurassic Park, but we never have so this is our first time and it could be a crazy first time if they win,B次元官网网址� said Zac.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely a historic moment for all of Canada.B次元官网网址�
Stay locked in. Stay in the moment.
B次元官网网址� Toronto Raptors (@Raptors)
South of the border, Toronto-born Raptors superfan Angela Tran is making plans to watch Game 5 in the heart of enemy territory B次元官网网址� a bar in the San Francisco Bay area.
Tran said she wonB次元官网网址檛 mind being around all the Warriors fans cheering on their local heroes, just as long as they can all share the excitement of the game together.
Tran, 36, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2010, but said she hasnB次元官网网址檛 lost her B次元官网网址淩aptors spirit.B次元官网网址�
She watched Game 4 at Oracle Arena and said the presence of Raptors fans was strong in the sea of yellow Warriors shirts.
B次元官网网址淚 think the average Raptors fan is very loud compared to the average Warriors fan. It was electric in there,B次元官网网址� said Tran.
She said following the victory, Raptors fans in the arena got together to sing B次元官网网址淥 Canada.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always known how incredible Toronto is, but itB次元官网网址檚 kind of life show-and-tell,B次元官网网址� said Tran.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always been able to tell, but not been able to show. But now weB次元官网网址檙e able to show it.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址� By Alanna Rizza in Toronto, with files from Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton and Kevin Bissett in Fredericton
The Canadian Press
