Toronto's stars have aligned: Maple Leafs, Raptors both make playoffs
Maple Leaf Square, AKA Jurassic Park, becomes 'playoff hub'; will host tailgate parties
Toronto's Air Canada Centre is going to be even busier than normal this spring, and so will the square outside the arena, where thousands of fans are going to be watching not one, but two Toronto professional sports teams play in postseason games.
Both the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA have clinched playoff spots, which hasn't happened since 2001-2002. That has Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) preparing for a postseason full of tailgate parties outside the ACC.
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"I think it's the best of both worlds," said Leafs in-arena host Danielle Emanuele. "The fact that we can incorporate both teams in the same environment, watching both teams at the same time, I think it's exciting."
"And hopefully we'll see more of this in the future," said Raptors in-arena host Kat Stefankiewicz.
What happens to Jurassic Park?
The plaza in front of the ACC is officially known as Maple Leaf Square, but when the Raptors are in the playoffs — as they've been every year since 2014 — fans convert the space to the more appropriately-named Jurassic Park.
MLSE says the space will now become a hub for whichever team is playing at home. If the Leafs are playing in Toronto, for example, Maple Leaf Square will be dedicated to hockey fans.
Both teams will host tailgate parties for away games, providing the other is not playing a home game at the same time.
Great week ahead for Toronto sports. <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays">@BlueJays</a> home opener, <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors">@Raptors</a> in playoffs. <a href="https://twitter.com/torontofc">@TorontoFC</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoRockLax">@TorontoRockLax</a> in action.
—@JohnToryIf both the Leafs and the Raptors play on the same day at different times, Maple Leaf Square will transition from one team's party to the other after the first game of the day is finished.
If they play at the same time, both games will be shown simultaneously on the big screen as well as smaller support screens around the square. Maple Leaf Square will open for celebrations two hours before tip-off or puck drop.
The Leafs are in action Thursday with Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs against the Capitals in Washington at 7 p.m.
The Raptors finish up the regular season on Wednesday with an 8 p.m. game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
