With the start of Raptors training camp less than a week away, players and coaching staff unveiled changes to the team’s jersey Wednesday at the annual Toronto Raptors Charity Golf Classic. The unveiling marked the official transition to the team’s new primary colours - red and white. "As Canada’s basketball team, it is important to have both a home and road uniform with a strong, distinct Canadian look that complemented one another," said Beth Robertson, vice-president of marketing at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "The popularity of the team's red road uniform, combined with feedback from Raptors fans and players supported our decision to make this change." In 2003, the Raptors introduced an alternate road jersey that emphasized the Raptors’ pride in being Canada’s team. The alternate road jersey grew quickly in popularity with basketball fans, outselling Raptors jerseys in the team’s original Raptors colours. Other noticeable changes to the Raptors uniform include the addition of red trim on the white home jerseys and the popular Raptors claw replacing the TR logo. The new Raptors jersey will be exclusively sold at CentreSports at Air Canada Centre until October 13.
The Toronto Raptors play their first preseason game in Washington on Monday, October 9. Their first home preseason game comes Wednesday, October 11 when the Boston Celtics come calling at Air Canada Centre. The team opens the regular season November 1 in New Jersey before hosting Milwaukee two nights later in the home-opener.
Single tickets for the Raptors 2006-07 season go on sale in mid-October.