Anticipation builds ahead of Toronto Raptors pre-season game in Edmonton
Basketball fever is taking over Edmonton as the Toronto Raptors and the Utah Jazz will play a sold-out pre-season game at Rogers Place Sunday afternoon.
The match marks the first time a National Basketball Association (NBA) game will be played in Edmonton's Rogers Place. In 2008, the Raptors played the Denver Nuggets in a pre-season game at Rexall Place.
Leah MacNab, NBA in Canada managing director, said the pre-season contest aims to bring basketball to more Canadians outside of the Toronto area.
"We know that we have tons of fans in all corners of the country," MacNab said. "(Coming to Edmonton is) an investment in our fans.
For the past 10 years, the NBA Canada Series has brought NBA action to cities across Canada. On Oct. 14, the Raptors will travel to Montreal to face the Boston Celtics. Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary have all hosted previous NBA in Canada series contests.
"Our fans make our league happen," MacNab added. "We are grateful to be able to actually enjoy the game with them and celebrate with them."
MacNab says these special matches also help inspire youth to get involved in the sport.
"There's tons of basketball talent here," she told CTV News Edmonton. "Canada actually produces more basketball talent than most other countries outside the U.S.
"It's something we think, that we could find the next NBA or WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) player here in Edmonton."
Ahead of the anticipated event, some local youth got to test out the newly installed court at Rogers Place and learn from some of basketball's finest.
After completing drills and meeting Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, the group were surprised to free tickets to the Raptors game.
"We knew the kids were going to be excited, and (it would) be a wonderful memory they could keep for a lifetime," MacNab said.
Attending the basketball clinic was a dream come true for 16-year-old Owen Gateretse, who attends M.E. LaZerte High School.
"It means a lot," Gateretse said. "I've been a fan of the Raptors for a long time. It's always been a dream of mine to watch one of their games."
"(I'm) just excited to wake up tomorrow and come here."
Pamela Rutto, 17, a student at St. Francis Xavier High School, said it was surreal to complete drills on the same court the Raptors will play on Sunday.
"I've loved basketball for years," Rutto added. "I'm so excited. I've actually never been to an NBA game before, so I am so hyped for this. I cannot wait."
For Boozer, inspiring the next generation of basketball talent at the clinic reminded him of his first experiences trying out the game.
"It took me back to when I went to my first game," he said, adding how he was 16 when he enjoyed taking in his first in-person NBA game.
"Some of these kids aren't even 16 yet, and they get to see their first game," Boozer added.
The sell-out crowd shows the appetite for the NBA is growing, Boozer says.
"Canada is known for hockey," he said. "It'd be great to see another NBA team possibly in Canada down the road in the future.
"It's great that they are trying to reign in fans from across the country," he added. "They clearly want to watch basketball here in Edmonton."
Doors open at Rogers Place at 3 p.m. Sunday, and tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
The NBA in Canada Series is presented by Bell. CTV News, a division of Bell Media, is owned by Bell.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.