Toronto Raptors: Jurassic Park Shines Even When the Raptors Don’t

The Toronto Raptors had little to celebrate on Friday night, yet this is a fan base that believes their team belongs with the very best in the league.Let’s get this off the bat, this was long overdue.

I have tried my best to give my opinions to the people and what I think is right for the Raptors moving forward.

Whether some of you agree, disagree, or even care to click on my links when you read of my articles is greatly appreciated, but I also know when it is all said and done, my opinions are mine and mine alone.

This morning I am typing this at a time I would like to forget, about a game I would prefer to not mention, but one I must. Not because of the team that was on the big screen, but because of the people watching it.

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The fans.

See, here’s the thing about where we come from, this city has no real origins.

Sure, the Toronto Maple Leafs are an icon of the city, with no question. But that icon does very little to resonate with anyone outside of hockey circles or Canadian borders.

This team, on the other hand, the Toronto Raptors, has a different perspective.

This is a team that is younger than most of its diehard fans, they have won only two playoff series in their existence, and even now their all-time leading scorer is actually sitting on the opposing bench with a career threatening medical condition.

This team has little to celebrate about, yet the observations I make today tell me this is a fan base that believes it belongs with the very best in the league.

I began my walk across Yonge street after being dropped off from an Uber in Mississauga, and to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect.

As soon as I got out I saw a sea of purple, red, and white with some black and gold splotched in, thanks to your friendly neighbourhood OVO.

Still I was skeptical – was this another display of fair weather fans that were more concerned with being seen, than to be watching their team?

Was it a setting of fandom? Or commercialism?

But as I began to enter a line that stretched right from Maple Leaf Square all the way over back to where I first got out of my ride, I actually began to feel a sense of anxiousness.

My god, it was two hours from tip off and I was worried about if I’d even be let in!

My anxiety subsided when I finally made it to the front, but not before taking a look back in amazement at the sea of people still waiting to get in.

fans lined a city block two hours before tip off to get into jurassic park. Photo:Ryan Greco/Fansided /

Yes, it was Friday night, but I had just looked back at a thousand people trying to get into an outdoor plaza, just to watch a game on a screen.

As I gazed at this line I myself had just walked through, something began to take a hold, something genuine.

Still remaining ever the cynic however, I had cash in hand as I walked up to the gate ready to pay whatever price MLSE was willing to charge for this cash cow, not unlike the grand reopening they were able to capitalize on Toronto FC just a weekend earlier.

But then something unexpected happened – I was let through and as I looked around, I didn’t see a single other person pay either.

No, I was an ordinary fan tonight, and I was being let through free of charge, we all were.

Now that was unexpected.

“I think MLSE hit it right on the head,” said Akil Augustine, the pre game master of ceremonies for the crowd at Jurassic Park. “This was an event that organically took shape thanks to the fans, and instead of simply trying to monetize it, they listened to what people wanted and without ever really being asked, they have managed to regulate this event that happens at these games without having to make people feel like they are coming out of their pockets to support it.”

And it makes sense, as I looked around and saw many faces from as far away as Mississauga and Oshawa that had made the trek down here to witness this event.

With these young faces I saw families and teenagers from all walks of cultures that normally couldn’t afford Raptors tickets, but could make the trip to be a part of this event that has come to be.

It was these visuals that gave me a sense of civic pride watching this game, even as it slipped away.

Even as the inevitable began to set in, most fans made sure they were there to the final whistle, unwilling to surrender a moment of pride to the invaders from the south who would be surely arriving tomorrow.

Next: Raptors Heat series a war of attrition

To the fans I saw tonight I salute their dedication. We are all going to need it come Sunday night.

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