Theme nights have become commonplace across North America's major sports league in recent years.
NBA teams regularly celebrate various communities, ethnic groups and holidays throughout their seasons, putting together special merchandise and game production for fans to enjoy at games.
The Atlanta Hawks recently got creative with one of their theme nights, organizing a Magic City Monday night for their game against the Orlando Magic at Statefarm Arena on March 16. The night was meant to honor Atlanta's renowned Magic City strip club, arguably the most popular adult entertainment club in the United States.
A press release by the Hawks referred to Magic City as an "iconic cultural institution", and announced the evening would feature the establishment's famous chicken wings, as well as performances from local music stars like rapper T.I.
The team also announced production of a commemorative hoodie, with "Magic City" emblazoned on the front, the Hawks logo on one sleeve and a peach on the other.
The announcement generated significant buzz online, ranging from excitement to ridicule to disapproval. One notable voice of opposition came from San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, who wrote that the theme night was deprecating towards women.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love,” the center wrote in a blog post. “Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Facing pressure from dissenters like Kornet, the NBA decided to cancel the Hawks' Magic City Monday event on Monday.
Why the NBA Canceled Magic City Monday
NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the podium
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on Monday, announcing that the league was nixing Atlanta's unique theme night.
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks‘ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” Silver said. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners, and employees. I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”
The Hawks released a statement of their own in light of the cancellation, expressing their disappointment in the decision.
“While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision,” the Hawks said Monday. “As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.”
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