Preparations are underway for Monday morning parade after the Toronto Raptors historic NBA Finals win, with thousands of fans expected to swam the streets and join team players in celebrations.

The parade will depart from the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place at 10 a.m., before heading east on Lake Shore Blvd., then north on York St. and University Ave. before going to Nathan Phillips Square via Queen St. W. for a celebration rally from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A stage at the square will be set up, with entertainment provided, Mayor John Tory said.

The championship parade will feature open-air double-decker buses carrying the team with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. They will arrive at the square for the fan rally, which is expected to draw a huge crowd.

“We are so proud of our Toronto Raptors and this history-making Finals run. On Monday, we get to come together as a city to celebrate the team,” Tory said in a statement. “Everyone is working together to make sure the parade will be a great and memorable event.”

Tory urged employers to give people time off work Monday for the parade. “Let them celebrate!” he said. He was noncommittal on whether Drake or other celebrities would join the festivities.

Read more:

Opinion | Doug Smith: Raptors’ NBA title will usher in another basketball evolution

Opinion | Dave Feschuk: Kyle Lowry goes from better to best in leading Raptors to first title

Key moments behind Raptors’ NBA Finals championship drive

“I hope he would be coming,” the mayor said.

Near Yonge-Dundas Square, the morning after massive crowds of fans filled the streets, fitness trainer Marios Zachariam said he is shuffling clients around in his schedule to ensure he can attend the parade.

“We’re going to have some green juice and get there early,” he said.

The 43-year-old, who said he’s been a fan since the Raptors inaugural year when the young team beat Michael Jordan’s powerhouse Chicago Bulls, said he was out partying in the streets until 3 a.m., only to have to roll out of bed for a 7 a.m. shift.

“I paced it out last night, that’s how I survived,” he said.

His friend, Andrew Bala, 32, said he, too, remembers watching the team as a kid in those hapless first seasons. “I was in the SkyDome, watching with binoculars,” he said. “It’s been a helluva ride.”

“I wasn’t around for the Blue Jays’ parades in the 1990s. Now I’m around for the Raptors for 2019,” he said. “I’m definitely not missing this.”

The team is asking fans to wear their Raptors colours proudly.

The forecast for Monday is calling for a high of 22C with clouds and 60 per cent chance of showers, according to Environment Canada.

At Jurassic Park outside Scotiabank Arena Friday morning, a number of excited fans gathered as if they had another game to look forward to.

“Sleep? Nah, buddy, we gonna be here till the champs get home,” said Ben Shaw, who lives around the area and has been coming to the viewing area since Game 1.

“I spent my night running around, shouting and crying. The greatest feeling ever,” he said, still wrapped in a Canadian flag and wearing the jersey of the NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

Nearby at Real Sports Apparel, the official team store, the line of customers appeared as long or longer than at any earlier point in the team’s playoff run.

After lining up for hours to get into the store, Hanna Garcia proudly wore her white NBA Champions shirt and hat, which she said cost about $100 total. She said she bought six other shirts to give to her family in Vancouver, where she lives.

“My brother in Manila called me right after the game and wants to get a shirt,” she said. “Everyone thinks it’s easy to get in Toronto. It’s crazy.”

Read more:

Toronto Raptors crowned NBA champions for the first time in team history

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

‘6ix in six!’: Toronto takes Jurassic party to the streets as Raptors crowned NBA champs in historic win

Edward Keenan: United we are in our communal embrace of the NBA champions: the Toronto Raptors basketball team

On the other side of the arena, street artist Victor Fraser put the final touches to the large Raptors logo that’s graced the sidewalk outside Union Station all playoffs — adding the words “2019 NBA Champions” to “Eastern Conference Champions,” which he had painted a couple of weeks earlier.

“All these years I felt like something was missing in our town. Not anymore,” he said, dressed in a mirrored jacket and hat, taking pictures with fans.

Through the team’s run, Fraser has become a minor celebrity himself, and he says loves it. “That’s what winning does to everyone. We are friends and we are the champs,” he said.

Connor Scott said he woke up with the plan of coming to Jurassic Park because he expected the Raptors players to be here already.

“I don’t know man, gotta go to school and everything,” he said, asked how he planned to spend the rest of the day.

“This is the best feeling still,” he said. “All these years we’ve been watching others celebrate. Now it’s us. Unbelievable.”

In a press release Friday, Metrolinx warned GO Transit customers to plan ahead, as trains and platforms will be much busier on Monday. Metrolinx told customers to avoid travelling during the morning or afternoon rush hour if possible.

It said that, if needed, extra GO trains will be available to shuttle fans from Union station to Exhibition, where the parade begins. Exhibition station will be very busy, so the public has the option of joining the festivities at Union, said Metrolinx.

Those looking to access Exhibition Station are advised to check the schedules for Lakeshore West and some Lakeshore East trains. The Union Station bus terminal will remain open Monday, and all routes will run during the parade.

There will also be extra station staff and transit safety officers to “ensure everyone celebrates safely,” said the company.

The City of Toronto has also urged those travelling to consider using public transit, cycling, walking, or taking a taxi or other ride service. “Those travelling in and out of the city could experience significant delays,” they said in a release.

The city says that full road closures and restrictions will be in effect starting as early as 9 a.m. Monday, including the following:

• Bay Street will be fully closed between Dundas Street and Richmond Street West.

• Queen Street West will be fully closed between Yonge Street and University Avenue.

• Chestnut and Elizabeth Streets will be fully closed.

• Armoury Street will have restricted access.

The TTC will also be adding extra staff, streetcars and more frequent subway service to accommodate people travelling to and from the parade, said the city’s release. The following TTC routes will be diverted for the parade: 5 Avenue Rd, 6 Bay, 29 Dufferin, 121 Fort York-Esplanade, 501 Queen, 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina and 511 Bathurst.

The 510 Spadina will not be available at Union Station, those travelling in that area can use the 509 Harbourfront to connect with the 510 at Spadina Ave.

With files from Emma Sandri.