Toronto Raptors: Which Company Should Sponsor Their Jerseys?
By Demar Grant
OVO
How about some Quid pro quo (or skid row bro). Drake is the Toronto Raptors global ambassador, which basically means he’s Canada’s Spike Lee on steroids. He’s an avid fan of the Raptors and avid enough that he’s already left and imprint on the team with his infinite meme-ability.
When Drake was first named global ambassador it was a way to increase the profile of the club. The Raptors were still stuck in the doldrums of the post-Chris Bosh years and still unable to advance out of the first round.
Drake helped make the Raptors cool again. He showed up to as many games as possible and collaborated with the team to get black and gold nights throughout the years. The Raptors even have a OVO themed uniform to further the association with Drake and the OVO brand. Though Drake’s role as global ambassador is known, his actual participation with the team has been diminished recently.
Odd, because Drake helped bring the Raptors popularity out of the meteor stricken ashes to where it is today,
where people are dancing in the streets celebrating victories,
where fans recite lyrics rapping about players on the team
, and where players from other teams and broadcasters are struck by how much the city really loves their team.
An OVO sponsorship would re-assert Drake’s role within the organization while still promoting his own brand, label and the city. The OVO owl is Drake’s seal of approval, the gold bird is a symbol of opulence and excellence that all Torontonians recognize, which is rare among many teams let alone sponsorships.
The owl opposite the Nike Swoosh could be one last way the Raptors get the ‘Drake treatment’ gracing them with his omnipotent cultural influence.