Raptors plan to start NBA season in Tampa

Well, no one should be saying they're surprised by this development.

As expected, the Canadian federal government has denied the Toronto Raptors' request for a special exemption to play their NBA home games at Scotiabank Arena while Canada-u.s. border restrictions remain in place to protect the public from further spread of the novel coronavirus. The closure of the border to non-essential travel was just extended through at least Dec. 21.

It's the same ruling that forced the Toronto Blue Jays to use Buffalo, N.Y., as their home base for the 2020 MLB season.

For the Raptors, it means they'll move their entire operation south to Tampa, Fla., for at least the time being.

Fortunately for the Raps, they were prepared for the news. They have been combing over potential sites since the league announced its start date, all the while hoping to convince the government they could host games safely in Toronto with no risk to the public.

“The Raptors worked diligently with public health officials at the local, provincial, and federal level to secure a plan that would permit us to play our 2020-21 season on home soil and on our home court at Scotiabank Arena,” Raptors team president Masai Ujiri said in a release. “These conversations were productive, and we found strong support of the protocols we put forward. Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play, means that we'll begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Fla.”

The idea of convincing elected officials to make an exception for the Raptors seemed like a pipe dream from the beginning and more so once the COVID-19 numbers starting creeping up again over the past month or so.

Raptors GM Bobby Webster said earlier this week that he and his staff had been putting in exhausting hours weighing their options for a temporary home in the event the Canadian government took this stance.

Among the places explored in addition to Tampa were Nashville, Tenn., Kansas City, and even New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the fact that the Raptors will start the season in Tampa doesn't necessarily mean they'll finish there.

The league will release the schedule in two parts with a break on March 4. Webster said the Raptors won't rule out a return to Toronto at that point.