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


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Toronto Blue Jays star Vladdy Guerrero Jr. drops cryptic messages amid contract drama

Canadian hockey fans boo U.S. anthem after being specifically told not to

Brampton NBA player Tristan Thompson in heated feud with Toronto Raptors

Raptors' new star Brandon Ingram already in love with Toronto food scene

Legendary Toronto Maple Leafs announcer passes away

Marineland park in Ontario planning to finally remove all marine mammals

Toronto Raptors legend Kyle Lowry crashes Super Bowl party in Philadelphia

You can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Rogers Centre in Toronto