[Towered]

I've always thought Raptors was a stupid name, and I blame Spielberg and the zeitgeist-chasing Bitove for putting that into our nomenclature.

Look at the other NBA team names: Bucks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Jazz, Kings, Lakers, Mavericks, Nets, Knicks, Pacers, Pelicans, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Spurs, Thunder, Timberwolves, Blazers, Warriors, Wizards, 76ers, Hornets, Magic, Nuggets. There are some other bad ones, what's a Nugget? Denver's team name was chosen by a contest... which is how you end up with Boaty McBoat Face. But there are others that are evocative, like the Pistons, Rockets, and Bulls.

Apparently Toronto was also considering the name T-Rex, which would have been even worse.

I don't mind Nuggets that much really - it's different than everything else at least by romanticizing the gold rush (or uh, breaded chicken chunks)!

 

[SubHuman]

I've always thought Raptors was a stupid name, and I blame Spielberg and the zeitgeist-chasing Bitove for putting that into our nomenclature...

"Raptor" can refer to a bird of prey, and not necessarily a dinosaur, although the team's logos have always made the dinosaur connection.
A lot of teams have carnivorous predator names, including mustelids like wolverines and badgers, yet I've never heard of a team calling itself "weasels". Weasels were used as symbols on coat of arms (in a manner similar to lions and bears), I suppose before the negative connotation arose in modern English speaking areas.

 

[Jonny5]

Too bad this one is already taken by a minor league baseball team in the US.

Rocket City Trash Pandas Unveil Full 2024 Schedule

The Rocket City Trash Pandas are excited to reveal the schedule for the 2024 Southern League season. The fourth season in Rocket City history will open on the road on Friday, April 5 at Tennessee before Opening Night at Toyota Field, scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 against the Birmingham Barons.

www.milb.com

 

[starlinnitschke8]

Report: Toronto granted WNBA franchise, to begin play in 2026

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful for an announcement soon amid reports that the city is getting a WNBA team.

www.tsn.ca

The WNBA is reportedly coming to Toronto.

Led by Toronto billionaire and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum, Kilmer Sports Inc. has been granted an expansion franchise by the WNBA and will begin play two seasons from now in May of 2026, according to Shireen Ahmed of CBC Sports.

According to Ahmed, Toronto’s 8,000-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum will serve as the franchise’s home arena.

Last year, Scotiabank Arena was sold out when it hosted Canada's first ever preseason game and last weekend Rogers Place in Edmonton hosted another preseason tilt in front of a capacity crowd.

The WNBA currently has 12 teams, with a San Francisco-based expansion franchise to push the league to 13 teams next seasons. Toronto's franchise will be the first WNBA team outside of the United States.

Tanenbaum, 79, is also the minority owner of MLSE, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts and Toronto Marlies.

Who wouldn't be happy about this? Damn, this is really cool, a new team, new passions, a new competitor, new fans. The matches will fill the arena, which will lead to a significant economic effect:
people will spend money on tickets, food, souvenirs, etc. Also of no small importance are bets. I used to be actively involved in this myself, I know that you can make good money on this.
But lately I've been reading useful information on https://gamblizard.ca/best-canadian-online-casinos/no-verification-casinos/ about payments, no verification casinos, deposits.
My interest has changed a little because of this, I rarely place bets. In general, I want to say that a sporting event of this scale always becomes a driver for the economic growth of the city.

Former European soccer executive Ivan Gazidis and Teresa Resch, who previously worked with the Raptors as vice president of basketball operations, are both now working for Kilmer Sports Inc.

In any case, it will be good for the city. People will come to the matches and leave money in the city. Also various stakes, etc. You understand everything perfectly well.

 

[Towered]

Toronto Towers! Make this name finally happen - it's got a natural ring to it.

 

[Towered]

Of course they didn't pick the obvious name. Of course not.