Raptors fans gearing up for playoff run

The Toronto Raptors’ playoff run has fans across the country captivated, heading into Monday’s Game 5.

When it comes to fans jumping on the Raptors bandwagon, the team’s merchandise is becoming a hot item around the country, and Saskatoon is no different.

Saskatoon’s Olympian Sports is seeing sales “skyrocket,” according to sales associate Matt Morrison. Since the playoff run has began, he says the store’s sales have gone up roughly 30 to 40 per cent.

“They come in, and it’s been flying off the shelves,” he said. “It’s been really fun to see.”

He says he has seen a good mixture of new fans and those who have been there from the beginning during this playoff run for the Raptors.

“There’s a lot of people that are on the bandwagon, and they admit that they’re on the bandwagon as well,” he said. “It’s cool to see the lifelong Raptor fans, especially the older guys that are in their 40s or 50s that saw the Raptors come into existence and understand it. They’ve been waiting a long time.”

Morrison says that he also knows that with a Raptors win it will be all hands on deck for the store, getting ready for the possible championship gear that comes with a victory of this magnitude.