Meet Larry O’B at the Raptors Championship Showcase

The Toronto Raptors are the defending NBA Champions, and that means the Larry O’Brien Trophy is theirs until another champion is crowned — and team is sharing the trophy with its fans for the next several weeks.

From now until November 18, the Raptors are hosting a Championship Showcase outside Gate 1 at Scotiabank Arena. Inside this showcase you’ll find the Larry O’B, as well as other memorabilia from the championship run, including:

• The Eastern Conference Championship Trophy (which, as far as I can tell, does not have a name)
• Game-worn jerseys and shoes
• Game balls from Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 6 of the NBA Finals (apparently the self-same balls that Kyle Lowry snatched out of the air as the buzzer sounded in both games)

The entire exhibit will take about 10 minutes to walk through, and you can take all the photos you like. Here are all the details you need for your visit:

How to Get in to the Raptors Championship Showcase

The Showcase is just outside of Scotiabank Arena’s Gate 1, in the area called the Galleria — on the east side of Gate 1, between Scotiabank Arena and Union Station. It’s open between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily, until November 18.

To get in, you’ll need the Raptors app, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play.

Open up the app, tap “Fans” at the bottom, and you’ll see the banner for the Championship Showcase. Tap on that, and you’ll be given the option to select a date, and the number of people you’re bringing in with you; you’ll need to give them your name and email address as well. Tap submit, and you’ll be given a QR code to show as you enter.

Then you simply show up on your specified date — and enjoy! You don’t need to select a specific time (at least not yet — depending on crowd size, I can see them adding this option); you can arrive at any time on your specified date.

I visited on a weekday afternoon, the second day the exhibit was open; there were only about 10 people there. I imagine it will get busier as it’s been open for a while, and will certainly be busier on weekends and game days.

Should you Visit the Raptors Championship Showcase?

I’ll be honest, it’s a quick visit — this isn’t visiting the ROM or the AGO.

If you’re in the area for other reasons, or it’s a quick trip to the arena for you, then it’s an absolute no-brainer. It’s the Larry O’B!

If you have to travel or make a special trip or GO train ride, it’s a tougher decision... but seeing the Larry O’Brien Trophy up close and in person (you can get right up next to it, although security will crack down on you if you touch it), along with the other items, is pretty much priceless. Who knows if you’ll ever get another chance? If you have the time and the means, I don’t think you’ll regret it.