Raps, Drake expanding relationship
The Raptors relationship with one-time ambassador Drake has become more and more tough to define in the past year and a bit.
The ambassador label got dropped, but Drake still seemed to have the run of the place and of course those courtside seats that allowed him to hob-nob with all his NBA buddies.
Now the partnership between the Raptors and Drake is set to grow again, this time with the city and the sport itself benefitting.
Team president Masai Ujiri announced Wednesday a new program that will see the team host a total of six “Welcome Toronto” and OVO-themed home games this season, where the Raptors will wear their new OVO-edition uniforms and debut a new black and gold home court beginning with games on Friday, Jan. 26, against the Utah Jazz and Sunday, Jan. 28 against the L.A. Lakers. The Welcome Toronto program will also see Drake and the Raptors donate $1 million to refurbish local community basketball courts and another $2 million to Canada Basketball.
The Raptors and OVO have pledged $1 million over the next three years to refurbish and refresh local community basketball courts. For each of the next three years, four local community courts will be selected for a capital investment with the first four court locations announced later this month.
Over the next five years, the Raptors and OVO will contribute a total of $2 million to Canada Basketball to continue the team’s long-standing support of the development of the sport from the grassroots level to the national program.
“We have something very special happening in Toronto and Drake is a big part of that,” Ujiri said in a team press release. “We’re looking forward to this opportunity to continue working together to inspire and support young people, to showcase this great city around the world and to grow the game of basketball.”