ATLANTA—The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that it has canceled the planned promotional event centered on the world-famous Magic City strip club at next Monday's Atlanta Hawks home game against the Orlando Magic, the Associated Press reports.
“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. “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.”
As AVN reported, the Hawks were being pressed to cancel the theme night despite the cultural significance of the Magic City club.
The club, owned by entrepreneur Michael “Magic” Barney, was profiled in the 2025 five-part docuseries Magic City: An American Fantasy.
The docuseries explored the role Magic City has played in the decades-long development of modern Black culture, serving as an epicenter for trap music, Atlanta rap and Southern hip-hop. The Atlanta Hawks announced the collaboration late last month, characterizing the strip club as one of the "city's iconic cultural institutions."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented, "When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale.
"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," Silver added. "I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community."
Some players on other NBA teams opposed the Hawks collaborating with Magic City. San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet is one player of note who voiced concern that the Hawks were promoting "the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."
Kornet wrote on Medium.com: "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 owners of Magic City issued their own statement in response to the event's cancelation, per a CBS News report, saying, "We would like to thank Atlanta and our supporters around the world for the incredible outpouring of love and support. It's a powerful reminder of the community we've built over decades. While we're disappointed that the partnership will not move forward, we understand the complex position the NBA faced and respect the league's decision. Our respect for the Atlanta Hawks remains unchanged—they are our neighbors, friends, and an important part of the city we love.
"For more than 40 years, Magic City has been proud to serve as a cornerstone of Atlanta's hospitality, food, music, and nightlife culture. We remain committed to providing a safe, professional, and empowering environment for our performers, staff, and guests," the statement continues. "We firmly denounce abuse, exploitation, or mistreatment in any form and stand for the dignity and safety of everyone in our industry. If anything, this moment shows that Atlanta stands united. We're proud to represent the culture, energy, and creativity that make this city special, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate and support the community that supports us."
