Sources: Raptors To Host 2016 NBA All-Star Game

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Raptors are on the verge of landing the 2016 NBA All-Star game in Toronto, according to multiple sources.

An official announcement is expected shortly that will reveal further details of how one of the sport's biggest weekends will tie in to the Toronto Raptors' 20th-anniversary season.

Tim Leiweke, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO, made it clear upon taking over the company that landing the prestigious event was one of his early goals.

“Clearly the 2016 all-star game is a flag in the sand that we planted with the NBA. It is a must have in my opinion and it will be the centre piece of how we rebrand this,” Leiweke said in May.

Via Ryan Wolstat/Toronto Sun

[Ericb033]

Amazing , took long enough. After all Toronto is a Mega City

[Sam195]

Leiwike has delivered. Is there going to be a wait list to buy tickets starting this year? When the allstar game happens in a us city, ticket sales start one month into that season. But for the allstar game in toronto, basketball fans from all over canada will want to purchase tickets generating a list much longer than previous events. Hopefully we see Canadian Sensation Andrew Wiggins playing in the game as well.

[SteveNizzy]

gods have blessed the nba, toronto is a beautiful city

[JV4MVP]

White Vegas!!

[MalcolmXing]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

[ThaRaptor11]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

Man you sure are dumb, sound pretty butthurt too. t's ok dude

[Fellow72]

Like sam said, the demand is going to be crazy. The sports fans in Toronto, let alone all of Canada isn't the least bit comical. Look at how Leafs fans go all out for example. The ticket prices are probably going to have to be a minimum $700. I don't know what the Allstar rates are like when it's in the US, but i'm very positive it's going to be a whole lot more expensive here. Damn, if prices are above $700, i'm not sure if i'll be going. The most i could see myself dishing out is $1000, but anymore and it's ridiculous. The demand is going to be super inelastic so they can definitely charge whatever they want sigh.

[ontnut]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

1) Soccer is THE global sport, so what are you talking about? Unless you mean stop trying to force-feed "AMERICANS" soccer...Is America what you mean by "global", and how egocentric is that?
2) Like it or not, basketball is a global sport. Let me take the time to remind you now that America has not won every single major competition ever. They have been beaten before and likely will be again.
3) #1 Overall pick this past draft, Anthony Bennett, projected #1 pick in the next draft Andrew Wiggins, and recent former #4 pick Tristan Thompson are all Canadians, born in, you guessed it - TORONTO.
4) The first game in the NBA was played at Maple Leaf Gardens, in TORONTO. Modern basketball was invented by a Canadian-born person.

Yes, it's very much a Canadian game, too. Stay in America? lol c'mon now.

You sound like a close minded individual who thinks that the world revolves around America and that just because you like something, that somehow it's automatically yours, without rhyme or reason. Toronto has a financially healthy franchise in a big city with good infrastructure, big fan base and a global demographic with money to spend. Why shouldn't it get an All-Star game? Just because it's in Canada? Who the hell wants to go to Salt Lake City or Minnesota before going to Toronto? lol. c'mon buddy...

[n8sheikh]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

Haha.. Do you even know where Toronto is? Im going to assume you think it's in India from ur comment. It's probably too big of a mystery to you North of the Border.

[MalcolmXing]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

Haha.. Do you even know where Toronto is? Im going to assume you think it's in India from ur comment. It's probably too big of a mystery to you North of the Border.

Yes, it's not in India?!? Wtf:(

[MalcolmXing]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

1) Soccer is THE global sport, so what are you talking about? Unless you mean stop trying to force-feed "AMERICANS" soccer...Is America what you mean by "global", and how egocentric is that?
2) Like it or not, basketball is a global sport. Let me take the time to remind you now that America has not won every single major competition ever. They have been beaten before and likely will be again.
3) #1 Overall pick this past draft, Anthony Bennett, is a Canadian born and bred player. Projected #1 pick in the next draft is Andrew Wiggins, a Canadian born and bred player. Former #4 pick Tristan Thompson is a Canadian as well.
4) The first game in the NBA was played at Maple Leaf Gardens, in TORONTO. Modern basketball was invented by a Canadian-born person. Yes, it's very much a Canadian game, too. Stay in America? lol c'mon now.

You sound like a close minded individual who thinks that the world revolves around America and that just because you like something, that somehow it's automatically yours, without rhyme or reason. Toronto has a financially healthy franchise in a big city with good infrastructure, big fan base and a global demographic with money to spend. Why shouldn't it get an All-Star game? Just because it's in Canada? Who the hell wants to go to Salt Lake City or Minnesota before going to Toronto? lol. c'mon buddy...

The stupidity bleeds..

I said the NBA should branch out via creating new leagues..they're trying to extend their reach but they need to quit doing it by getting teams outside of the USA.

Just does not work, they should create different leagues like FIFA does, by region.

I'm aware of all that(including that Cleveland truly is an idiotic sports town).

I'm a Wiggins fan, I'm not saying Raptors should leave the NBA. Heck I'm hoping for Wiggins to somehow be a Rap, would love to see what an already lucrative franchise for the NBA can do with a huge superstar from it's location can do.

Also, that Canadian born man was in the USA for many a years before inventing basketball.

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

[BlackFalconGSW]

Wiggins..

[n8sheikh]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

1) Soccer is THE global sport, so what are you talking about? Unless you mean stop trying to force-feed "AMERICANS" soccer...Is America what you mean by "global", and how egocentric is that?
2) Like it or not, basketball is a global sport. Let me take the time to remind you now that America has not won every single major competition ever. They have been beaten before and likely will be again.
3) #1 Overall pick this past draft, Anthony Bennett, is a Canadian born and bred player. Projected #1 pick in the next draft is Andrew Wiggins, a Canadian born and bred player. Former #4 pick Tristan Thompson is a Canadian as well.
4) The first game in the NBA was played at Maple Leaf Gardens, in TORONTO. Modern basketball was invented by a Canadian-born person. Yes, it's very much a Canadian game, too. Stay in America? lol c'mon now.

You sound like a close minded individual who thinks that the world revolves around America and that just because you like something, that somehow it's automatically yours, without rhyme or reason. Toronto has a financially healthy franchise in a big city with good infrastructure, big fan base and a global demographic with money to spend. Why shouldn't it get an All-Star game? Just because it's in Canada? Who the hell wants to go to Salt Lake City or Minnesota before going to Toronto? lol. c'mon buddy...

The stupidity bleeds..

I said the NBA should branch out via creating new leagues..they're trying to extend their reach but they need to quit doing it by getting teams outside of the USA.

Just does not work, they should create different leagues like FIFA does, by region.

I'm aware of all that(including that Cleveland truly is an idiotic sports town).

I'm a Wiggins fan, I'm not saying Raptors should leave the NBA. Heck I'm hoping for Wiggins to somehow be a Rap, would love to see what an already lucrative franchise for the NBA can do with a huge superstar from it's location can do.

Also, that Canadian born man was in the USA for many a years before inventing basketball.

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

First of all Toronto has been in the league for 18 years. Raptors fans have been lobbying for an all star game ever since the Franchise came about. For one, a Sports town like Toronto actually generates more revenue than several US cities. Some of which are Indiana (had an all star game), Portland (Had an all star game), Milwakee (Had an all star game). Of course, I'm not fully implying that revenue and fan support are the only things necessary for a city to host an all star game but they play a major part. Secondly, you don't think critically at all. Your statement did make it seem like you didn't know where Toronto was because of the fact that 3 major cities in the US have held 2 all star games each, namely LA, Houston and NO. If the NBA was simply branching out, from a business perspective don't you think they would've done it before entering into the Raptors 20th season? It's common sense that the Raptors obviously deserve it and the new owner has played an integral part in submitting the right request. Thirdly, who said anything about capitalism? That makes no sense. Capitalism? Please, tell me more. I'm very interested because the NBA owns the teams right? The NBA is an association that manages a league, it does not own the teams that host the All-Star game. Lastly, Toronto was in line to host several All Star games in the past, including the first 1 that New Orleans got.

[ontnut]

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

Toronto already has a franchise, it's not the league branching out. If it was in Vancouver or London, then yes you could say that. It's not.

What does a franchise have to do to "deserve" an all-star game? Do the Clippers in LA not deserve an all-star game because they are (historically) bad but in a big city? Boston hasn't had an ASG since the 60's, do they not deserve one for being so good and still a big city? What about small town New Orleans?

It's in New Orleans this year - tell me, what have they done to deserve it more than Toronto? Other than some Katrina pity tangent that has nothing to do with the NBA? In 2010 it was at Cowboy stadium in Arlington (Yes I know it's Dallas but it's not even in their own actual arena). In 2008, New Orleans again - twice in 6 years despite being a complete crap franchise? Whoa....2007 in Vegas? They don't even have a team! C'mon man, you can't argue that Toronto shouldn't get the ASG because it "doesn't deserve it" At least it has a franchise...Sounds like your criteria for deserving the ASG doesn't exist other than "American City", which is stupid.

[MalcolmXing]

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

Toronto already has a franchise, it's not the league branching out. If it was in Vancouver or London, then yes you could say that. It's not.

What does a franchise have to do to "deserve" an all-star game? Do the Clippers in LA not deserve an all-star game because they are (historically) bad but in a big city? Boston hasn't had an ASG since the 60's, do they not deserve one for being so good and still a big city? What about small town New Orleans?

It's in New Orleans this year - tell me, what have they done to deserve it more than Toronto? Other than some Katrina pity tangent that has nothing to do with the NBA? In 2010 it was at Cowboy stadium in Arlington (Yes I know it's Dallas but it's not even in their own actual arena). In 2008, New Orleans again - twice in 6 years despite being a complete crap franchise? Whoa....2007 in Vegas? They don't even have a team! C'mon man, you can't argue that Toronto shouldn't get the ASG because it "doesn't deserve it" At least it has a franchise...Sounds like your criteria for deserving the ASG doesn't exist other than "American City", which is stupid.

I apologize I only read the top, I'm a bit busy so you'll have to excuse me.

But by branching out, I didn't mean by making a new franchise.

[payne]

ok cool. 20 years for toronto and i think 1 playoff appearance (maybe 2)

[sanity]

The stupidity bleeds..

the NBA should branch out via creating new leagues..they're trying to extend their reach but they need to quit doing it by getting teams outside of the USA.

Irony

[mjd58]

Should be in Seattle or Boston..not no Canada, makes no sense except the NBA being capitalistic & trying to act as if basketball, like soccer, should be global when it shouldn't & can't be.

Now if like soccer they build leagues in different parts of the world..great idea. But the NBA specifically should stay in America.

The NBA could however buy FIBA & go that route. I'm a fan of the Raps but I don't think the all star game should be outside the USA.

Hi, welcome to Planet Earth. Toronto is about a 3 hour drive from Detroit. It is in North America; practically indistinguishable culturally from any other big American city. For you to think that this is about making basketball "global" (the NBA will never expand overseas, for obvious time difference reasons) shows how woefully uninformed your opinion is.

[mjd58]

The stupidity bleeds..

I said the NBA should branch out via creating new leagues..they're trying to extend their reach but they need to quit doing it by getting teams outside of the USA.

Just does not work, they should create different leagues like FIFA does, by region.

I'm aware of all that(including that Cleveland truly is an idiotic sports town).

I'm a Wiggins fan, I'm not saying Raptors should leave the NBA. Heck I'm hoping for Wiggins to somehow be a Rap, would love to see what an already lucrative franchise for the NBA can do with a huge superstar from it's location can do.

Also, that Canadian born man was in the USA for many a years before inventing basketball.

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

Jesus, you're (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

If other leagues should be made, they should be predicated on time zone differences.

For xeneophboic/jingoistic reasons (which I'm sure you're too dumb to be aware of) you want to draw an imaginary line between America and Canada. Here's some news: America and Canada are a cultural package; America and Canada are economically tied together. For example, economists, when they talk about Americas energy needs, mention Canada as if it were just another state in the union.

So, yes, you are stupid, and yes, every poster who has read your asinine comments has instinctively recognized it. Why? Because there is no godly reason to separate Canada from America with regards to sports leagues; hey share the same continent; they share a practically identical culture (differences being as significant as those between Texans and New Yorkers); that the CFL continues to exist is more a matter of personal pride in tradition than anything else. Tomorrow, 12 Canadian cities could easily be integrated into a much larger NFL - if there was enough of a demand for it.

Plain & simple, Toronto was picked for reasons such as branching out & less because it deserves it.

What, pray tell, are you smoking?

Ok. You clearly think you're educated - but you aren't. Nothing you have thus far written has justified this claim. Where would the NBA be interested in branching out? And why would going a half plane ride north to Toronto accomplish that?

Here. I'll grant you this. The world is increasingly becoming more global; it is a trend that encompasses everything. We can thank the internet for that.

So, is your complaint that an All star game in Toronto would benefit the economy of a non-American city? If so, tough luck. The NBA profits from Toronto's existence, thus, Toronto should periodically profit from the NBA.