What is it like to attend a Toronto Raptors game at the Scotiabank Arena, or hang out in front of the arena at Jurassic Park? When travelling, if possible, I like to attend a professional sports game. So, when heading to Toronto I had to attend a Raptors game. I went expecting a great atmosphere but ended up witnessing the wildest run I’ve ever seen! In the past, I’ve been to two other NBA games, a Chicago Bulls game and a Minnesota Timberwolves game, so how did the Raptors game compare and was it worth it?
Scotiabank Arena and Location
Scotiabank Arena is in the heart of downtown and it’s about a 10-minute walk from the Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays play. The area is hopping. There are plenty of people walking around, wearing jerseys and supporting their teams. But the day we went to a Raptors game, there was also a Blue Jays game earlier in the day, and it was clear that the Blue Jays were Toronto’s more popular team.
There are also several bars and restaurants in the area if you want to go for an early dinner before the game or grab a postgame bite. We booked reservations in advance for Real Sports Bar & Grill. It was a good thing that we booked because the place was packed. The atmosphere was fun and there were massive screens everywhere, perfect to watch the pregame show and other sport. The menu had typical bar food, but it was good. We had wings and sliders. Both were excellent. Our timing was perfect; we booked our reservation at 4:15 and the game was at 6:00 pm. We finished eating with enough time so we didn’t have to rush. When finished, we slowly made our way across the street to the arena.
Ever since I had been watching the Raptors, especially during their run in 2019 I wanted to go to a Raptors game and tailgate at Jurassic Park, or Maple Leaf Square as it’s known, which is right in front of the arena. Before the game we walked through the square, and there wasn’t much going on. The area was packed with people but there wasn’t really any tailgating. I guess it only happens during playoffs.
So, we headed into the arena. It was a typical basketball and hockey arena. It was nice and clean, but it didn’t stand out as being too fancy. What was nice, it didn’t take long to get in or find our seats and the pedestrian traffic through the arena wasn’t bad. But how was the game?
Raptors Set a Record
Like every other NBA game we’ve been to, the home team, Raptors started off behind. But unlike the other games, the Raptors came back quickly. The Raptors were down 20-14 and went on to score 31 unanswered points, going up 45-20 and holding the Magic scoreless for almost 8 minutes. It was an exciting sequence but made the rest of the game less exciting. Every other game we’ve been to were nailbiters, with the home team losing. At least the Raptor won, but when they went up 25 we knew the outcome for the rest of the game. The Magic never had a chance, mind you it was still fun seeing the Raptors dominate in front of their home crowd.
Atmosphere
NBA games are a lot of fun to attend live; there is lots of scoring and there are lots of things happening between plays. There is music, shirts being thrown, mascots, and this was the first time we’ve seen a sneaker drop, where sneakers were dropped throughout the arena in parachutes. Or daughter enjoyed seeing the Raptor dancing on the court and laughed when he fell down the stairs... I think it was planned? But unlike the other two games I’ve been to, especially the Bulls the fans and arena didn’t feel as hyped. There was lots of music between plays, but it wasn’t as loud and the fans weren’t as energetic. Still, the game was a lot of fun.
Prices and Food
Attending professional sports events is expensive, and tickets always seem to be going up in price. Basketball isn’t as expensive as football, but the tickets are still pricey. We were in upper level, off center and paid $97 a ticket. There were plenty available through a third party, but the prices got pretty steep for better tickets… not horrible, but not pocket change. Although even though we were high up, the seats were good and we had a good view of the game.
And, just like all professional sporting events, the drinks and food were expensive. It cost $15 a beer and the bag of popcorn we bought wasn’t cheap. There were lots of concession stands and the lines weren’t too bad, but aside from popcorn and a few beers that’s all we purchased. It was worth it to eat ahead of time at Real Sports Bar & Grill.
Final Thoughts and Was it Worth it?
NBA games are a blast and the Raptors game was no different. We had a lot of fun and so did our daughter. There is lots of action and the tickets are reasonably priced. But like the other arenas I’ve been to the seats are small; it was a good thing we paid for a seat for girl. It was nice to see the Raptors win and to see a historic run, but from the second quarter on we knew who was going to win; that’s why the game wasn’t as exciting as other NBA games we’ve been to. Once the game was over, the fans were happy, but not overly excited. We hung around Jurassic Park for a bit, but there wasn’t much going on minus a few hot dog stands. But still we witnessed history, had a great night out in Toronto and is something we’d do when we’re back in the six again. If you are in Toronto and don’t have an NBA team back home, it’s totally worth going to a Raptors game.
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