Montreal is shutting down two downtown blocks tonight to allow people to cheer on a team from the city’s traditional bête noire: Toronto.
The very notion would have seemed far-fetched, until Monday night.
That’s when several thousand enthusiastic fans turned up for the impromptu “Jurassic Park” on Peel Street to cheer on the Toronto Raptors in a losing effort against the Golden State Warriors.
“We were all Canadian that night and it was very emotional,” said Alain Creton, head of the Peel Street Merchants’ Association and owner of Chez Alexandre, a popular Parisienne brasserie.
Creton said he was astounded by the number of young people from all backgrounds who were crammed up against his terrace that night.