Professional sports teams throw promotions all the time. Some are innocent, some are stupid, and some are controversial. Remember last year's 'Let her cook' promotion sponsored by Gatorade. It was intended to empower women but some people found it sexist. Baseball takes the cake in the controversy category. Promotions are done to boost attendance but they're not always well thought out.
The Chicago White Sox held Disco Demolition night where you could get a ticket for 98 cents if you brought a disco record to blow up at midfield. Over 50,000 fans showed up and the explosion left a crater at midfield, the fans rushed the field forcing the White Sox to forfeit the game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers held a 'Ball Night' where they gave away souvenir baseballs to fans as they entered the stadium. Then after a couple of controversial umpire calls and the ejection of then Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda, the fans pelted the field with the balls forcing the Dodgers to forfeit to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The infamous 10 cent beer night by the Cleveland Indians to boost attendance...what could go wrong? The Indians were playing the Texas Rangers whom they hated, combine that with thousands of drunk and rowdy fans and a full scale riot broke out in the 9th inning forcing players to defend themselves with bats and of course the game was forfeited.
This brings me to March 16, 2026 for the Atlanta Hawks vs the Orlando Magic on the promotional night the Hawks are calling 'Magic City Night'. Magic City is a popular strip club in Atlanta. There will be exclusive merchandise available like 'Peachtree themed hoodies' as well as rapper T.I. performing a halftime show, a pregame show by DJ Esco, and Magic City's chicken wings will be available.
If the NBA allows this they will be once again talking out of both sides of their mouth. Commissioner Adam Silver was just bragging about making the NBA more family friendly and now this. I'm sure they'll be some families in attendance on March 16th probably unaware of who and what the night is promoting. These families will probably be seated next to some scantily clad ladies and other staff from the strip club. I like when they try to advertise the event as promoting an entertainment venue...allegedly.
At least one NBA player isn't down with the promotion. San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet thinks this promotion will reflect poorly on the NBA. He feels that many women in the strip club industry experience abuse, harassment, and violence. I happen to agree with Luke but at last check on Ticketmaster, this game is pretty much soldout. While this promotion is questionable, the NBA does have gambling websites as partners so it in a weird way it makes sense. That being said, is the NBA family friendly or all about gambling and 'entertainment venues', someone tell the commissioner it can't be both.