raptors parade how many

This is how many people were at the Raptors parade in Toronto

More than one million fans crowded the streets of downtown Toronto and about 100,000 packed Nathan Phillips Square and the surrounding streets at the Raptors championship parade yesterday.

“I think it’s fair to say that the Raptors captured the city’s imagination," said Brad Ross, spokesperson for the City. "It really brought people together in a way no other sporting event has before.”

Before the parade commenced, a spokesperson from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment estimated that 2 million people would participate in the parade.

To gage how many people were at the parade, the City of Toronto looked at grids and tracked the number of people who travelled by public transit downtown yesterday.

“We don’t want to overstate things or understate them either,” Ross said.

They also compared the capacity of Nathan Phillips Square to past events. New Years' Eve usually attracts about 60,000 people and Ross estimated that 65,000 to 70,000 people overflowed into Bay and Queen streets.

He said that the celebration and coming together throughout the NBA Finals doesn’t compare to any past events, even the Blue Jays World Series championship in 1993.

Regardless of how many people attended the parade, Raptors fans have undoubtedly gained a reputation for their loyalty over the course of the NBA Finals.

Lead photo by

Roozbeh Rokni


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Latest in Sports & Play

Former Leafs tough guy Ryan Reaves pens heartfelt goodbye to hockey

Kawhi Leonard's son really wanted to come back to Toronto

Raptors star Kawhi Leonard says he's taken quite a liking to Toronto

Vladdy's numbers look dramatically different in Toronto Blue Jays wins

What Auston Matthews said about his Toronto Maple Leafs future

Toronto Raptors' NBA title odds jump following Kawhi Leonard trade

Here's what the Toronto Raptors are getting in a 35-year-old Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard reportedly willing to give up millions to play for Toronto Raptors