Canadian NBA team picks region as home base for upcoming season

Canadian officials declined to let the Toronto Raptors play its season in its home country.

By Business Observer Staff
| 5:30 p.m. November 22, 2020
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Tampa Bay-Lakeland

TAMPA — Tampa Bay sports teams are on a hot streak, with a Stanley Cup championship from the Lightning, a World Series appearance from the Rays and a buzz around the Buccaneers, courtesy of signing iconic quarterback Tom Brady.

Now the region has another victory: The NBA’s Toronto Raptors — the team won the league championship in 2019 — announced it will play the 2020-21 season at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, home of the Lightning. The team made the decision after failing to come to an agreement with Canadian officials to play games in Canada, due to the pandemic.