Raptors fans across the country are gearing up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals as Canada鈥檚 lone team in the league is one win away from bringing the championship trophy north of the border for the first time ever.
With Toronto set to face the Golden State Warriors at home Monday evening, Raptors fans started to line up around the Scotiabank Arena two days earlier, hoping to gain access to the city鈥檚 famed Jurassic Park to witness history in person, despite rainy conditions.
鈥淲e have an opportunity to show the world that we can stand out rain or shine,鈥� one fan, who was taking refuge under a tarp, told CP24, noting he had been in line since late Sunday.
As of noon, the lineup filled the entire barricaded area set up outside the gates to Jurassic Park and wrapped around the arena.
But the team鈥檚 historic run hasn鈥檛 stopped at Toronto鈥檚 borders. The Raptors have become 鈥淐anada鈥檚 team,鈥� gaining support from Canadians from every corner of the Great White North.
鈥淚t鈥檚 super exciting to be here,鈥� Toronto鈥檚 Kiana Coates Cameron told CTV News Channel from Jurassic Park. 鈥淭he energy, so many people, this is Canada鈥檚 team so it鈥檚 a big deal that we could be one game away from winning the finals, it鈥檚 crazy.鈥�
Halifax superfan Gab Levert said East Coast residents have come to his city from all over to celebrate and watch the Raptors鈥� quest for the championship.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting people coming from Cape Breton, Moncton, P.E.I., all over Atlantic Canada to come to Halifax to experience Jurassic Park 2.0 here in Halifax,鈥� Levert told CTV News Channel. 鈥淭he excitement is indescribable, we鈥檙e just happy to see so many people enjoy themselves here in Halifax.鈥�
Even fans some 3,000 kilometres north of Jurassic Park are truly putting the 鈥渘orth鈥� in the Raptors鈥� slogan 鈥淲e The North.鈥�
鈥淗ere in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut you couldn鈥檛 find a person who is not following Raptors and has been watching it all the way through,鈥� Paula Cziranka told CTV News Channel. 鈥淲e always kid and joke about how we [are] the true north up here and it鈥檚 true. You鈥檝e got Raptors fans far and wide up here, from every profession, from every house, we鈥檙e all intently watching and seeing how they鈥檙e going to do tonight.鈥�
The Raptors can clinch the title Monday night with a victory over two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, capping a historic post-season run that has captured Canada's collective imagination and whipped Raptors fans into a frenzy.
