Hawks to Celebrate Atlanta Strip Club Magic City at NBA Game

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver leaves players to address controversial team promotion.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Atlanta Hawks are planning to celebrate the local strip club Magic City during an upcoming home game against the Orlando Magic. The move has drawn criticism, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver leaving it to one of his own players to publicly address the controversial team promotion.

Why it matters

The decision by the Hawks to celebrate a strip club highlights the ongoing tension between professional sports leagues trying to appeal to a broader audience while also dealing with the realities of the entertainment industry. This incident raises questions about the league's values and standards, as well as how players and teams navigate these types of sensitive issues.

The details

The Hawks are set to celebrate "Atlanta's Cultural Iconic Institution 'Magic City'" before and during their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. Magic City is a well-known strip club in Atlanta, not a science center, museum, or other cultural institution as the team's promotion suggests.

  • The Hawks' celebration of Magic City is scheduled for March 16, 2026.

The players

Adam Silver

The commissioner of the National Basketball Association.

Atlanta Hawks

The professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“The highly combustible, thinning line between 'Woke' and unconscious continues to leave us all lower.”

— Phil Mushnick, Columnist (nypost.com)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges for professional sports leagues in balancing entertainment, corporate partnerships, and maintaining a family-friendly image. The Hawks' decision to celebrate a strip club raises questions about the league's values and standards, and how players and teams navigate these sensitive issues.