TORONTO — Fans basking in the glory of the Toronto Raptors’ historic NBA championship win rushed to cement the memory with official merchandise Friday as the city prepared for a massive public celebration next week.
People lined up outside several stores peddling Raptors championship gear hours after the sole Canadian team in the NBA beat the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Thursday night. It was the first time an NBA team outside the U.S. clinched the title.
In some locations — including a store at Scotiabank Arena where the Raptors play their home games — would-be shoppers at times waited in a line longer than a city block.