Thousands of Hawks fans ignored the NBA after commissioner Adam Silver shut down the team’s collaboration with iconic Atlanta strip club, Magic City.
State Farm Arena was packed with 18,138 fans on Monday night as the Hawks picked up a 10th straight win with victory over the Orlando Magic. The atmosphere was likened to a playoff game but, in reality, it was supposed to be Magic City night.
Back on February 26, the Hawks announced a collaboration with the renowned adult entertainment club, which has been open for more than four decades.
The team promised exclusive merchandise, the club’s lemon pepper wings and a halftime show by Atlanta rapper T.I.
Less than two weeks later, however, Silver shut it down, citing concerns from ‘a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.’
Nevertheless, plenty of Hawks fans dressed in Magic City gear – both official and unofficial – including principal owner Jami Gertz, while T.I. still performed at halftime.
Rapper T.I performs at halftime of the Atlanta Hawks-Orlando Magic game on Monday night
State Farm Arena was packed with 18,138 fans as the Hawks picked up a 10th straight win
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shut down the team’s collaboration with strip club Magic City
Plenty of Atlanta Hawks fans dressed in Magic City gear – both official and unofficial
Gertz, with the help of Drake, was an executive producer on the recent docuseries ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ which looks at the club’s long impact, particularly on black culture.
The Hawks co-owner sported a club sweatshirt in her seat near halfcourt as she watched Atlanta roll to a 124-112 victory.
The event’s cancellation was met with mixed reactions – including confusion. That was clear by game time, as one of several retail shops in the arena had tallied 12 Magic City hoodie requests through the first quarter.
A Hawks Shop sales associate said 300 of those hoodies were available for preorder, and they sold out almost immediately. The high demand prompted a larger order of the sweatshirts, which will now be permanently shuttered away.
Koreena Atkins, a member of the Hawks’ fan section known as the FanDuel 404 crew, secured one of the 300 sweatshirts. She said the hoodies were gone less than two hours after the preorder opened.
Atkins had hoped to wear her sweatshirt to the game, but the fan club, which makes up the top three rows of section 122 every game, was told Magic City chants and gear would not be tolerated.
Nichole Kagwisa missed the preorder window, and come Monday night she demanded answers.
‘I’ve been a (season-ticket holder) for five years, and I’ve upgraded. Like, I’m a good member. I want a sweatshirt,’ she said. ‘I didn’t have this game. I was going to buy tickets, but then my friends got standing-room only. We wanted the experience, and we still ain’t seen the lemon pepper wings yet!’
Among a sea of disappointed Hawks fans were those pleased with the NBA’s decision.
The renowned adult entertainment club has been open for more than four decades
The atmosphere was likened to a playoff game but it was meant to be Magic City night
Singer-songwriter and actress, Kandi Burruss (L), and business star Kimberly Blackwell were among the big names at the game
‘I personally think they should have never done it. I’m here today with my grandson, who just turned 15 years old,’ said a longtime season-ticket holder who didn’t want to give his name.
‘You want to go in that direction, then go in that direction. But when you do, you’re going to lose grass roots, and I’ve been a Hawks fan since they came here in the ’60s.’
Ashton Leroux, who has DJ’d at Magic City for the past eight years, was able to sympathize with both sides.
‘I didn’t think it was that big at first, and then I started to realize I’ve been amongst club culture for half of my DJ career, and it kind of took me away from the real world,’ Leroux said.
He then pointed to a young boy, also standing in the Hawks Shop. ‘Like him, what if he sees this and wants to actually ask, ‘What is this about?’ How do we talk to the kids? I get that side. I really do.’
The controversy brought more attention and interest to the club than any event ever could have, Leroux said, adding a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd was fully anticipated on Monday night.
‘If there was stock in Magic City, it would’ve gone through the roof,’ Leroux said.
