The magic is gone.
The NBA announced Monday afternoon that it is canceling the Hawks’ planned promotion for Magic City, the city’s renowned adult-entertainment venue.
The in-arena promotion was planned for March 16 at State Farm Arena for the matchup against the Orlando Magic.
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Monday in a statement.
“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,” Silver added.
The planned activities at State Farm Arena included a halftime performance by iconic Atlanta rapper T.I. (whose real name is Clifford Harris), and pregame music curated by DJ Esco, who was the DJ on Monday nights at Magic City.
The Hawks already had a link with Magic City, as the team’s principal owner, Jami Gertz, helped produce a five-part documentary on Starz that chronicled the cultural significance and connection that the establishment had to the city of Atlanta.
“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work that we did to put together ’Magic City: An American Fantasy’,” Gertz said in a statement released by the team in February. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
Following the league’s announcement of the night’s cancellation, the Hawks issued their own statement. They also provided an update on what activations will take place at the game.
“While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect their decision. 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.”
The team announced that T.I.’s performance at halftime will go on as scheduled.
The Hawks also announced:
- The limited-edition Peachtree-themed hoodie will no longer be available for purchase at the game on March 16th. All pre-ordered merchandise will be honored and delivered as previously scheduled.
- The live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast, including Hawks’ Principal Owner, filmmaker, and actor Jami Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney, has been cancelled. Fans who purchased tickets to the recording will be contacted directly.
- The full array of award-winning culinary options available at State Farm Arena for Hawks games will be available, including wings.
- Lauren Williams contributed to this story.
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