Maple Leaf Square closed for Raptors, Leafs playoff games

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has closed Maple LeafSquarebecause of wintry weather that has descended on Toronto.

The closure, which took effect hours before the start of the firstplayoff game between the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards in Toronto and the second playoff game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins, comes as the city is being slammed by freezing rain and ice pellets.

A spring storm is moving through Southern Ontario on Saturday.

MLSEsaid in a statement on Saturday thatits decisionto close the square, which also goes by Jurassic Park for Raptors games,is duepublic safety concerns.

"Due to inclement weather conditions involving expected high winds and freezing rain, and with the safety of our fans in mind, Maple Leaf Square will be closed for both the Toronto Raptors game at5:30 p.m.as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast following the conclusion of the Raptors game," it said.

MLSEadded thatMaple LeafSquare will resume its regular tailgate programmingon Monday.

Maple LeafSquareruns a full city block right next to the Air Canada Centre where the Raptors and Leafs play their home games.

On game days, it's closed off to traffic and opened up to thousands ofscreaming fans, all of them watching on a gigantic big screen TV.