Toronto to host 2016 NBA All-Star Game

[janitor]

About damn time


Toronto to host 2016 NBA All-Star Game

RYAN WOLSTAT, QMI Agency
Sep 24, 2013
, Last Updated: 3:34 PM ET

TORONTO - The basketball world is coming to Toronto in early 2016.

Multiple sources told QMI Agency on Tuesday that the Raptors are on the verge of landing the 2016 NBA all-star weekend.

An official announcement is expected shortly that will reveal further details of how one of the sport's biggest weekends will tie in to the Toronto Raptors' 20th-anniversary season.

Tim Leiweke, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO, made it clear upon taking over the company that landing the prestigious event was one of his early goals.

“Clearly the 2016 all-star game is a flag in the sand that we planted with the NBA. It is a must have in my opinion and it will be the centre piece of how we rebrand this,” Leiweke said in May.

Incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver was in town earlier this month for MLSE Expo, a get-together of MLSE employees, but Leiweke told QMI at the time that Silver wasn’t in town to go over the all-star bid. He will take over for David Stern this February.

MLSE began the bidding process last February and Cleveland was considered the other serious contender for the event, which will be held in New Orleans this season and either Manhattan or Brooklyn in 2015.

NBA all-star weekend includes the main event Sunday, as well as the slam dunk/three point and other contests on Saturday night, celebrity-themed games Friday and the fan-friendly NBA Jam Session that likely would be held at the Convention Centre.


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/Toronto/2013/09/24/21147756.html

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=432655

 

[emceeyan]

Amazing news! Slam Dunk Contest with Wiggins representing, JV as the starting Centre!!

Saving up now!

 

[f-lace]

 

[torontostar]

Didnt realize their was a thread for this.

I cant imagine the craziness that will surround the city that weekend. 

I wonder what nike will have planned in regards to basketball all star collection, should be a good one nonetheless. 

 

[1438008135]

 

Perfect GIF

 

[DYNAMICS]

Long overdue.

 

[fx2]

definitely making the trip for this.

 

[polar]

This will be sick. 

 

[Naruto]

coming out of our tax dollars smh. You telling me MLSE cant afford it

 

[fenixconnexion.]

Ticket prices for events gonna be sky high smh

 

[mkc1983]

I don't care if Vince Carter is retired by that time, I wish he could participate in the dunk contest just for the hell of it. We'd forgive him by that time, no?

 

[DYNAMICS]

Ticket prices for events gonna be sky high smh

Of course, and there probably won't be many tickets available to the public.

 

[fenixconnexion.]

Of course, and there probably won't be many tickets available to the public.

probably gonna be available only to season ticket holders, sorta like the winter classic for the Leafs

 

[torontostar]

probably gonna be available only to season ticket holders, sorta like the winter classic for the Leafs

i dont think they  will leave the fans hanging like that.

 

[fenixconnexion.]

i dont think they  will leave the fans hanging like that.

it's how most teams sell for all-star events from what I've noticed. lure people in to buy season tickets so they have the right to purchase all-star tickets. it's brilliant.

 

[uknowbigearl]

By then the Raptors will be totally rebranded with the help of Drake similar to what Jay-Z did with the nets. 

 

[trenzone82]

This is amazing news not only for the fans but for the game , maybe they. Will give another team a shot up here in the future.