The NBA doesn’t want to celebrate strip clubs — for good reason

The NBA playoffs kicked off this month. While there were many memorable moments during the regular season, the Atlanta Hawks’ promotion of a strip club makes the list.

The Hawks planned a Magic City Monday for its March 16 game against the Orlando Magic. The themed-game was to celebrate a well-known strip club in Atlanta, Magic City. The event included special merchandise and the club’s famous lemon pepper wings.

However, criticism from players, fans, and the general public caused a national debate over gender politics and doubts related to branding and the initial message of the promotion. The NBA cancelled Magic City night a week before the event.

The Hawks said they wanted to connect basketball with something that represents Atlanta’s identity and everyday life in order to localize the game. While organizers focused much on entertainment with local food and live music with T.I.’s halftime performance, some people perceived and associated Magic City as only a strip club.

The public reaction seems to be reasonable, considering children, public institutions, sponsors, and global media partners are invested in the NBA.

However, the biggest mistake was their ignorance of gender politics. Strip clubs usually normalize the objectification of women and highlight dominance of male leadership and audiences, which can lead to unequal treatment of their shareholders.

By choosing to celebrate a famous strip club, the Hawks normalized male pleasure and put it over shared values and female movements that have actively contributed to gender equality development in the sports industry.

Even if the NBA initially had good intentions, they gave preference to male fans and other shareholders. Women’s bodies were intended to be a marketing tool — simply put, profit.

Organizers also underestimated the public reaction. They focused only on local audiences in Atlanta. But once the event reached the internet, the local joke was no longer domestic, but a national scandal.

Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs wrote a blog post criticizing the Hawks’ Magic City Monday game.

He argued that the NBA should “protect and esteem women” and celebrating a strip club is disrespectful.

“We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love,” Kornet wrote.

Kornet has a lot of public influence, as well as weight inside the league, so his voice led to many other people speaking publicly about this, including former Hawks’ star Al Horford.

This seemed to be a reminder to the NBA about its core values and the importance of female supporters and representatives in the sports industry. Kornet also highlighted that in the adult entertainment industry, women often experience abuse, harassment, and violence. This is why we should not normalize it or ignore all the pain and injustice they have to go through.

Supporters of the promotion focused their opinions on Atlanta’s real nightlife, culture, and only Magic City’s local frame. Some may see the NBA’s decision as one that ignores a real part of Atlanta. Some critics also referenced that the league doesn’t care about its values when sponsoring gambling and alcohol ads. Another argument from their side is that no dancers were a part of the event program — only wings and merchandise. 

As there were some bigger violations by the league previously, many critics say the NBA cares more about its image than about protecting people’s safety and respect. 

The NBA’s decision to cancel Magic City Monday is brand protection rather than a realization of gender inequality. The intention to embrace the real culture of cities when it comes to sports is good, but it should be mindful and not make people feel uncomfortable and underrepresented. 

The NBA still has a responsibility to maintain a positive reputation as an entertainment provider for many, but also promote respect, inclusion, and key shared values. It’s about protecting the league’s brand and respecting women and their rights.