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Chiefs’ Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes pitch Kansas City as host city for Toronto Raptors

Kansas City hasn’t played host to an NBA team since the 1980’s when the Sacramento Kings were known as the Kansas City Kings.

With COVID-19 forcing the Toronto Raptors to explore an alternative stateside home during the upcoming basketball season, many cities are vying for the team, including Kansas City. It’s very real too, with public officials making their bid to host the Raptors known to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the Raptors’ ownership.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes made his voice heard too, posting on Twitter on Monday. Mahomes, who became a part-owner of the Royals this offseason, knows a thing or two about sports franchises in Kansas City. During Wednesday’s media availability, Mahomes offered up a more official pitch to the Raptors.

“Obviously, Kansas City is a great spot for any franchise to be at,” Mahomes said. “I mean if you look at the support that the Royals have, the Chiefs, Sporting KC and everyone else that plays out here, the fan base is crazy, and they love sports and they love to be here. If you look just down the road at Lawrence, and you see the way the Jayhawks how they pack out that place every single week, you know that the T-Mobile Center would be a great spot for any basketball franchise to be at.”

Mahomes’ influence seems to have got the ball rolling on this and now everyone is on board. That includes Mayor Quinton Lucas and a number of local officials. It also includes Chiefs HC Andy Reid, who offered up his pitch to Toronto on Wednesday.

“Well, it’s a phenomenal sports town, I guess is what I’d tell them,” Reid said. “And not that Toronto’s not, I’m not saying that, they’re good people up in Toronto, too. But I believe we would love to have you, and let’s go, let’s roll. No better sports place than right here.”

No matter what happens with the push to get the Raptors to play in Kansas City, the excitement and support from local fans tell you that the city is ready to host an NBA franchise again and that this time around it could yield much greater success.

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