What to know
- Kyle Lowry’s free “Kyle’s Block Party” takes over Jurassic Park on Saturday, Sept. 19.
- The celebration starts at 11:30 a.m. and will feature food, merch, giveaways, apparel customization, a DJ and special guests.
- Fans can enter for free passes through the Raptors Fan Access platform starting Sept. 4 at noon ET.
- The party is part of a weekend celebrating Lowry, ahead of his No. 7 jersey retirement at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 10, 2027.
Toronto Raptors fans are getting the chance to end the summer with the ‘GROAT’ himself, Kyle Lowry.
In celebration of Lowry’s retirement, the Raptors announced Thursday that “Kyle’s Block Party” will take over Maple Leaf Square (better known to NBA fans as Jurassic Park) on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The free daytime celebration will honour Lowry’s nine-season Raptors career, which ultimately brought the franchise its first-ever NBA Championship and making him the player many fans have dubbed the ‘GROAT’ — Greatest Raptor of All Time.
The event tips off at 11:30 a.m. and will feature food and beverage stations, exclusive merchandise pop-ups, giveaways, apparel customization, a photobooth, a DJ and special guest appearances.
“Jurassic Park became special because our fans made it special, and our players felt that connection every night,” Raptors general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster said in a statement.
Webster said Lowry and his teammates knew that thousands of fans were outside Scotiabank Arena cheering them on during games, making Jurassic Park a major part of the team’s journey.
The block party comes as the Raptors prepare for a major milestone in Lowry’s legacy.
In July, Lowry signed a ceremonial one-day contract to officially retire as a Raptor. The team also announced that his iconic No. 7 jersey will be raised to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 10, 2027, following Toronto’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lowry will become just the second player in Raptors history to have his number retired, joining Vince Carter.
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A weekend to celebrate the GROAT
The Sept. 19 block party is part of a jam-packed weekend celebrating Lowry’s career and his contributions to Toronto.
The weekend begins Friday, Sept. 18 with The KLOW Invitational charity golf tournament, hosted by the Raptors and MLSE Foundation. After the Saturday afternoon block party, festivities will continue into the evening with “A Night For Seven,” a gala celebrating Lowry’s legacy and raising funds for MLSE Foundation.
Proceeds from the charitable events will support initiatives aimed at helping youth facing barriers reach their full potential through sport.
How to get into Kyle’s Block Party
Fans can enter for a chance to receive free passes through the Fan Access platform on the Raptors App beginning Friday, Sept. 4 at noon.
Entries will close Wednesday, Sept. 16 at noon, with selected fans notified later that day.
The Raptors will also host three Kyle Lowry-themed home games on Jan. 7, 8 and 10, featuring special programming, guest appearances, collectible merchandise and giveaways leading up to his jersey retirement.
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Lowry played nine seasons with Toronto from 2012 to 2021 and led the team to seven straight playoff appearances, two Eastern Conference Finals and of course, the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2019.
He remains Toronto’s all-time leader in assists, steals and three-pointers made, and ranks second in franchise history in points and games played.
