You’re “Welcome Toronto.”
Here’s the Raptors’ latest version of their City Edition Uniforms.
The jerseys, unveiled Friday, are essentially a shout out to Raptors’ original jersey (the jagged, semi-cursive font appears on both) and the team’s twenty-fifth anniversary, MLSE spokesperson Dave Haggith said.
The promotion called Welcome Toronto – currently celebrating its third year -, was established to advance both OVO’s and the team’s “commitment to art, community, and ball,” says a statement posted to the Raptor website.
OVO or October’s Very Own is Drake’s design label.
Welcome Toronto will happen over six specially selected home games, beginning with the Nov. 27 game against the woeful New York Knicks and ending on March 24 when the current NBA champions host LeBron James and his L.A. Lakers.
On these game days, “Welcome Toronto will be the stage for stories of basketball, community, fashion, art, [and] music,” according to a release on the Raptors’ site.
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For each of the six games, the team will be fitted in their brand-new OVO City Edition Uniforms. The new jerseys will be available for purchase on Nov. 27, just in time for Christmas (there's no word yet whether Drake will have his own custom version).
Inspiring the next generation of leaders,” and igniting “the culture of our game in our city,” is the goal of Welcome Toronto.
The Raptors and OVO have in the past have made a joint contribution of $1 million to “refurbish local basketball courts,” and a $2 million commitment to Canada Basketball.
READ: Exclusive Raptors Championship Sneakers ‘Available’ Nov. 17
The Falstaff Community Centre in North York was this year selected by the City of Toronto, the team and OVO to have its court refurbished.
Other facilities that the Raptors have helped refurbish include:
- the Thistletown Multi-Service Centre
- the Matty Eckler Recreation Centre
- the Flemingdon Community Centre, and
- the Malvern Recreation Centre
READ: Here’s Why Serge Ibaka Should’ve Designed The Raptors Memorabilia
Recently the Raptors joined with the Hijabi Ballers and released a unique Raptor- branded sports hijab.
The Raptors are proud of their community outreach so far, Haggith says, but that they’re “always looking for ways to keep refreshing and expanding” the partnership with OVO, Drake, and most importantly, fans.
The Raptors, currently 10-4, play the Hawks in Atlanta Saturday at 7.30 p.m.
