Raptors fans across the country are gearing up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals as Canadaâs lone team in the league is one win away from bringing the championship trophy north of the border for the first time ever.
With Toronto set to face the Golden State Warriors at home Monday evening, Raptors fans started to line up around the Scotiabank Arena two days earlier, hoping to gain access to the cityâs famed Jurassic Park to witness history in person, despite rainy conditions.
âWe have an opportunity to show the world that we can stand out rain or shine,â one fan, who was taking refuge under a tarp, told CP24, noting he had been in line since late Sunday.
As of noon, the lineup filled the entire barricaded area set up outside the gates to Jurassic Park and wrapped around the arena.
But the teamâs historic run hasnât stopped at Torontoâs borders. The Raptors have become âCanadaâs team,â gaining support from Canadians from every corner of the Great White North.
âItâs super exciting to be here,â Torontoâs Kiana Coates Cameron told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ Channel from Jurassic Park. âThe energy, so many people, this is Canadaâs team so itâs a big deal that we could be one game away from winning the finals, itâs crazy.â
Halifax superfan Gab Levert said East Coast residents have come to his city from all over to celebrate and watch the Raptorsâ quest for the championship.
âWeâre getting people coming from Cape Breton, Moncton, P.E.I., all over Atlantic Canada to come to Halifax to experience Jurassic Park 2.0 here in Halifax,â Levert told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ Channel. âThe excitement is indescribable, weâre just happy to see so many people enjoy themselves here in Halifax.â
Even fans some 3,000 kilometres north of Jurassic Park are truly putting the ânorthâ in the Raptorsâ slogan âWe The North.â
âHere in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut you couldnât find a person who is not following Raptors and has been watching it all the way through,â Paula Cziranka told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ Channel. âWe always kid and joke about how we [are] the true north up here and itâs true. Youâve got Raptors fans far and wide up here, from every profession, from every house, weâre all intently watching and seeing how theyâre going to do tonight.â
The Raptors can clinch the title Monday night with a victory over two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, capping a historic post-season run that has captured Canada's collective imagination and whipped Raptors fans into a frenzy.