Calgary showed out for Canada’s team.
The Toronto Raptors open scrimmage at the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson Gym wasn’t just another preseason stop. It felt like a love letter from a city that has fallen hard for basketball. Tickets disappeared in hours, and when the doors opened, thousands of fans were still lined up outside hoping to get in.
Inside, the energy was electric. The same gym that usually hosts Dinos games turned into a mini Scotiabank Arena for one night. The stands were packed, cameras were flashing, and the sound of sneakers echoed over the noise of the crowd. Every player got a cheer, but when RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes were introduced, the place erupted.
Even rookie Collin Murray-Boyles had his moment. His defensive intensity and highlight plays got fans on their feet and may have made him a new fan favorite before the season even begins.
The scrimmage had the perfect mix of intensity and fun. The younger players hustled to make their mark while the veterans kept things smooth and under control. Gradey Dick came out firing from deep. Emmanuel Quickley knifed through defenders with ease. Barnes picked up a tech after some animated moments that had the crowd roaring with laughter.
By the final buzzer, Team Black came out on top, but nobody seemed to care about the score. The real win was the atmosphere. The cheers, the energy, and the sense that Calgary was part of something bigger than one exhibition game.
“It’s amazing to see this kind of passion here,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković after the game. “You can really feel how much the city loves basketball.”
Basketball’s Momentum Is Real
The Raptors’ camp in Calgary was more than just a stopover. It felt like a sign that basketball has truly arrived in Alberta. Between the rise of the Calgary Surge in the CEBL and the steady success of the University of Calgary Dinos, the game has become a real part of the city’s sports culture.
“Having a pro team here, even for a few days, gives young players something to aim for,” said longtime Dinos coach Dan Vanhooren. “It’s momentum we can build on.”
That momentum keeps growing. The Dinos will host the U SPORTS Men’s Basketball Final 8 in March 2026, another huge milestone for the program and the city.
A City Ready for More
If there was ever any doubt about Calgary’s appetite for basketball, the Raptors erased it. The sold-out crowd, the buzz across campus, and the thousands waiting outside said it all. This city is ready for more.
From the Surge lighting up the summer to kids filling community gyms, basketball in Calgary is thriving. When the Raptors boarded their flight to Vancouver, they left behind more than autographs and memories. They left behind belief — that Calgary’s basketball story is only just beginning.
