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Fansided

Raptors are truly Canada’s team

By Chris Mckee

TORONTO, CA - APRIL 18: An overall view of the Air Canada Centre while the fans pass around the 'WE ARE THE NORTH' flag during Game One of the Eastern Conference Playoffs Washington Wizards against the Toronto Raptors on April 18, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CA - APRIL 18: An overall view of the Air Canada Centre while the fans pass around the 'WE ARE THE NORTH' flag during Game One of the Eastern Conference Playoffs Washington Wizards against the Toronto Raptors on April 18, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors are an anomaly in professional sports because they have an entire country as their fan base. The Raptors truly have become Canada’s Team.

The NFL has called the Dallas Cowboys “America’s Team” for decades now. If you went to Pittsburgh, PA or Green Bay, WI you’ll run into a heck of a lot of people who would strongly disagree that the Cowboys represent them.

However, if you speak to any basketball fans in Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary or Winnipeg and ask them what team they support; their answer will be universal.

We the North.

The Raptors are currently holding training camp in Victoria, BC and have held their camp elsewhere across Canada on numerous occasions. They’ve held camp in Vancouver on four separate occasions and in Halifax twice before.

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The team has held preseason games in almost every major city in Canada in the past which includes games in Montreal, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Calgary.

Their preseason game last year against the Golden State Warriors in Vancouver at Rogers Arena sold out within minutes.

The support for this team across the entire country is special and is an anomaly in professional sports.

Raptors TV/Radio analyst Sherman Hamilton spoke about how special the Raptors situation is in Canada. He explained the relationship between the Raptors and fans across the country for a segment on NBA TV.

He said:

"It’s a real unique situation when you think about it. One team and a whole country supports it. Its something that is very rare when you talk about professional sports and the Raptors at this point of their existence understand and value the support they get from across this whole country."

Hamilton competed for the Canadian National team in the 2000 Olympics and has as good of an understanding on the pulse of basketball in Canada as anybody in the country.

Hamilton added:

"I think its a beautiful transaction between the Raptors organization and the whole country of Canada."

This is the first time in many years that the team won’t play a preseason game elsewhere in Canada (outside of Toronto). Although, the team will hold an intra-squad game tonight at the University of Victoria which is of course the hottest ticket in town.

Next: DeRozan surprised Vancouver doesn't have an NBA team.

Whether it’s The Carter Effect or simply just a case of people wanting to support a winning team, fan support of basketball in Canada is growing at an exponential rate and you have to think that the NBA will at some point look north of the border to add a second Canadian franchise.

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