'Trying to get fans back in arena' top priority for Raptors president Masai Ujiri

Even as the NBA's trade deadline on Thursday was approaching, Masai Ujiri has kept his priorities in order.

"Trying to get fans back in the arena," Ujiri said Friday when asked what was more important between fans back in Scotiabank Arena or the trade deadline.

The Toronto Raptors vice-chairman and team president held court with the media on Friday where he made clear that getting a full-capacity arena is among the very top of his to-do list.

Ujiri is hopeful, however, these capacity restrictions might be rescinded earlier than planned.

"We've had conversations. MLSE is in conversations. I've had lots of high-level conversations," said Ujiri of the capacity limits his team is facing.

"With these things, there are a lot of studies, there are a lot of unknowns. They tried to take their time to do the right things. The way it's trending, I'm hoping maybe we can get back sooner than the proposed dates."

The hope for Ujiri is that 19,800 fans will be allowed to enter the building and participate in game action by then.

"Just like anything, you struggle for energy. You struggle to adjust to it, overall," Ujiri said of playing in empty arenas. "For me, I feel this game is all about playing, winning, human interaction. It's the biggest thing I feel sometimes, and it's lost."

Winners of their last eight games straight, and sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors are rolling right now and want to be able to share their success with their fans.

Ujiri addressed speculation that, before the Omicron wave peaked in Ontario, the Raptors may have been considering playing elsewhere again.

"The conversation is we're never going anywhere. We're staying here. We're not playing anywhere else but Toronto," Ujiri said.

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