NBA Cancels Hawks Magic City Celebration

The Atlanta Hawks haven’t had much to celebrate in the last few years. They missed the playoffs the past two seasons and will likely finish the season at best, battling for a play-in berth. For a team that is retooling on the fly and in search of an identity, creating an Atlanta city theme night seemed like a good idea. For the March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic, the Hawks had planned to celebrate Magic City, the legendary strip club that has become a fixture in the city’s culture, with their famous lemon pepper wings and trap music. With sweatshirts, chicken wings, and a halftime performance by local rapper T.I., what could go wrong? 

The problem wasn’t the apparel, nor the food, or the choice of musical guest, though one could have argued Jermaine Dupri would have been a better candidate. No, the problem was that the team wanted to honor a strip joint at an event that welcomed fans of all ages. 

Despite backlash from the media and even some NBA players, the team was steadfast in their decision to go ahead with their plans, until Monday when Adam Silver and the NBA stepped in.

Announcing that the league had heard “significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees,” Silver admitted that cancelling the celebration was “the right decision for the broader NBA community.” Duh! However, one has to remember that the NBA had at one point also given the plan the green light for the event. 

The Hawks, while willing to comply with the league’s decision, aren’t very happy about the change of mind, especially considering the game was just a week away. Although they still plan to have T.I. perform at halftime, wings will still be served, and any pre-ordered merchandise will still be delivered to buyers. All official branding, including the Magic City-themed hoodie and a podcast recording with club owner Jami Gertz and founder Michael Barney, has been put on ice.

Yes, Magic City is a cultural institution in Atlanta, and there have been plenty of NBA players who have made a presence in the famous club, including Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, but there is a time and place for the establishment to be honored. A basketball game that welcomes everyone from young kids to worldwide business partners isn’t exactly the best. While there are many who have voiced their displeasure about the night being cancelled, the story has brought a whole new level of attention to Magic City and the Atlanta Hawks, for better or worse.