With Raptors advancing, is there renewed hope for a Grizzlies return?
Posted May 26, 2019 12:59 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2019 9:35 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the Toronto Raptors head to the NBA finals for the first time ever, the excitement has sparked a yearning for another basketball team on the west coast.
With fans across the country celebrating the Raptors’ win, it sparks conversation about the resurrection of teams like the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Sportsnet 650’s Joey Kenward says despite support, we still have to wait for the Vancouver Grizzlies to re-enter the game.
“It isn’t going to happen anytime soon,” he says. “I think we can keep our fingers crossed, but I think everybody’s just enjoying the moment.”
He says B.C. still has a strong basketball fanbase hoping for the Grizzlies’ return.
“There’s always been a strong basketball excitement here in Vancouver for many, many years. It goes back to even before the team came here.”
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Kenwards says if it doesn’t happen in Vancouver, many fans would be just as happy with the SuperSonics returning to Seattle.
“But if the Sonics could return to Seattle, you’d have people making the trek every time they play.”
He adds for the first time in years, Canadian sports fans will be focused on the NBA finals rather than the Stanley Cup finals.
And you may not have to travel far to find a group watch party for the finals. Vancouver City Councillor Michael Wiebe says the city has been talking about where they could host a big, family-friendly viewing get together.
“Maybe at the big Terry Fox big screen in front of B.C. Place, where we could have food trucks and a place for people to gather and celebrate,” he says, though adds they’re still ironing out details.
