Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Pat Mahomes & Kansas City Major Advocating To Become Raptors Temporary Home
As of today, 2019’s NBA champion out of Toronto, will not be able to play the next season in their hometown, and could face a similar destiny as the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, who played their home games in Buffalo, New York, and the MLS’ Toronto FC who played in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Due to the United States’ handling of COVID-19, travel into Canada has been banned.
While Louisville has previously been considered as a prime guest host for the Raptors in the coming season, Kansas City now seems to aim for the role of the Raptors’ temporary home, as well.
They also have a famous advocate in NFL superstar, Patrick Mahomes. The major of Kansas City seems to be working on it already.
Bring them to KC! 💪🏽 https://t.co/di5r6bIAh7
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 26, 2020
Working on it. https://t.co/1Ud3AIsgRy
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) October 26, 2020
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, U.S. senators Roy Blunt, Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, and U.S. representative Emanuel Cleaver, II wrote to NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Toronto Raptors ownership Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment about KC hosting the Raptors this season: pic.twitter.com/I146OWIggI
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) October 27, 2020
While nothing has been decided yet, it doesn’t appear likely that the coronavirus situation will be handled by January, or at least have low enough new cases for Canada to open its borders for international travel. So the 2021 NBA season might actually start with a new team, just whether it will be the Louisville Raptors, the Kansas City Raptors or a different city Raptors has to be decided.
