Louisville Raptors? Toronto may play next year in Kentucky Update p4!

Dalek · Post #1 » by **Dalek** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 12:56 am

I was curious about this considering COVID-19 and border restrictions. Raptors playing home games in Louisville is pretty weird, but it seems like a good option East Coast option.

One big focus for next season has been the status of the Toronto Raptors. Due to the United States’ handling of COVID-19, travel into Canada has been banned.

MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays played their home games in Buffalo, and the Toronto FC of the MLS played its games in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The Raptors face a similar dilemma, and league sources tell Yahoo Sports one alternate location that has been broached is Louisville, Kentucky. Former NBA player and successful businessman Junior Bridgeman has been in contact with the NBA, considering Louisville has the KFC Yum! Center that is NBA-ready.

No decision has been made yet, as it’s on a laundry list of topics to be discussed on the upcoming call, along with the collective bargaining agreement, competitive formats for next season and an update on the social justice coalition.

https://sports.yahoo.com/with-the-nba-focusing-on-a-202021-start-date-where-will-the-toronto-raptors-call-home-193735746.html

icoholic · Post #2 » by **icoholic** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:00 am

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

C_Money · Post #3 » by **C_Money** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:03 am

Don’t know how to feel about this. Its not going to be the same cheering for a team that plays in a random US city.

Brinbe · Post #4 » by **Brinbe** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:04 am

it's fine. buffalo blue jays
louisville raptors

LoveMyRaps · Post #5 » by **LoveMyRaps** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:07 am

The return of fat lowry. mvp season incoming.

RaptorsNorth · Post #6 » by **RaptorsNorth** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:09 am

louisville ? louisville ? Wtf :lol:

xAIRNESSx · Post #7 » by **xAIRNESSx** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:10 am

smh

Maybe we should turn the chevron upside down for this season.

Vaclac · Post #8 » by **Vaclac** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:18 am

Brinbe wrote:it's fine. buffalo blue jays
louisville raptors

I know it shouldn't make any difference since there are no fans anyway but it just feels like there's a lot more connection between Toronto and Buffalo. Lots of Toronto hockey fans priced out of Leafs games go there and of course the Bills sometimes played games in Toronto. What % of Torontonians have ever set foot in Louisville?

LoveMyRaps · Post #9 » by **LoveMyRaps** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:19 am

Wish we played in San Diego...

San Diego Raptors...

tecumseh18 · Post #10 » by **tecumseh18** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:20 am

I'd rather play in San Diego - Kawhi's home town. He can come to games and cheer us on when he's not playing.

That would mess up the Eastern Conference aspect. But maybe we can switch with OKC and they can play in the East for a season. Our record against the West is usually pretty good.

TheRealDeal · Post #11 » by **TheRealDeal** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:20 am

Seems like a good location in terms of travel. Central division teams are usually at the bottom in terms of air miles

Vaclac · Post #12 » by **Vaclac** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:24 am

TheRealDeal wrote:Seems like a good location in terms of travel. Central division teams are usually at the bottom in terms of air miles

Good point unless they have teams play within their division more than usual next year to cut back on travel. Then being away from all the other Atlantic teams would be added travel.

blastttOFF · Post #13 » by **blastttOFF** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:26 am

at least we have a closer look at Louiseville and Kentucky recruits

Zeno · Post #14 » by **Zeno** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:27 am

Kentucky’s got 5% flat state tax so that’s a bonus for our guys and perhaps it’s a slight advantage over the norm for getting guys to take a big one year deal especially if they are going to have to give back 30% in escrow.

Merit · Post #15 » by **Merit** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:33 am

Zeno wrote:Kentucky’s got 5% flat state tax so that’s a bonus for our guys and perhaps it’s a slight advantage over the norm for getting guys to take a big one year deal especially if they are going to have to give back 30% in escrow.

Oooh. Interesting angle. I like that for the Raps.

Vaclac · Post #16 » by **Vaclac** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:39 am

Zeno wrote:Kentucky’s got 5% flat state tax so that’s a bonus for our guys and perhaps it’s a slight advantage over the norm for getting guys to take a big one year deal especially if they are going to have to give back 30% in escrow.

May as well go to a zero tax state then like Florida or Tennessee or New Hampshire. It's not like the actual location matters much when there are no fans and players would probably appreciate it.

rrdjutriurt · Post #17 » by **rrdjutriurt** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:41 am

Not sure how i feel about that one, but it's one heck of a nice option. It's gorgeous and might gain us some long term notoriety with the huge basketball following there.

Watch on YouTube

;t=221s&ab_channel=Cartercentral

COY0607 · Post #18 » by **COY0607** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:42 am

Will they be a Western Conference Team then? Thats a lot of trips from Kentucky to the East coast - especially in a season where NBA will want to minimize travel

Zeno · Post #19 » by **Zeno** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:51 am

antonaki1 wrote:Not sure how i feel about that one, but it's one heck of a nice option. It's gorgeous and might gain us some long term notoriety with the huge basketball following there.

Watch on YouTube
;t=221s&ab_channel=Cartercentral

I did a little research and they are apparently going to let college basketball in Kentucky have attendance of 15%. The ‘Yum Center’ has a capacity of 22000 so that’s potentially 3300 fans. Somehow there be Raptor fans there, I just know it. Lol. Anyone know if this is typical policy for indoor events in NBA markets?

xAIRNESSx · Post #20 » by **xAIRNESSx** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:52 am

For those that may not know where Kentucky is. 10 hour drive to Louisville from Toronto.