ATLANTA — It was going to be a league first. The Atlanta Hawks were partnering with Magic City, an iconic adult entertainment venue in the city.
The merchandise was approved, pre-sales got NBA fans in and out of the Hawks base excited for an event thatcelebrated authentic Atlanta culture. Rapper T.I., who got his start in Atlanta in part through Magic City, was set to perform at the half as attendees snacked on the club's famous lemon pepper wings.
Then San Antonio Spurs playerLuke Kornet published a blog.
What followed was a divide within the league as those siding with Kornet called the collaboration disrespectful to women and an overall bad look for a family-friendly league. The event was eventuallycancelled by the NBA commissioner.
Supporters of the event said critics didn't understand what Magic City meant as a cultural space for the city of Atlanta, and that the collaboration focused on merchandise and wings. No dancers were ever planned to attend the game in any official capacity. They also said the league was cherry-picking which "women's" issues they would address within the NBA.
In the days before "Magic City Monday" was cancelled,ticket prices skyrocketed, showing a clear desire from fans to participate in the now controversial experience.
As the seats filled in State Farm Arena Monday night, there was a diverse crowd of fans in Hawks gear, including women, families and a select few wearing their pre-ordered Magic City merchandise or items from Magic City itself. The official merchandise sold by the Hawks was approved by the NBA before the event was cancelled.
A few restaurants within the stadium were offering lemon pepper wings, but whether they were provided by Magic City was not acknowledged by the Hawks. A performance still from T.I. lit up the arena at halftime.
There were 18,138 fans in the crowd on Monday, according to official Atlanta Hawks numbers. Just 17,044 is considered a "sold out" crowd for basketball at State Farm Arena. The Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 124-112 in the team's tenth straight win.
Here's what Hawks fans had to say about the "Magic City" night that never was.
Female fans want to speak for themselves
"I feel like I got scammed," said Jennifer Jackson, a fan who says she bought her ticket that night specifically for the Magic City event as someone who "just enjoys Atlanta culture.
"There was nothing explicit going to happen at the game. I think it was just a play-on words, and like, the culture of Magic City and on Monday and playing the 'Magic' team. So personally, I was not offended. The women that I know are not offended by it. I mean, it's sex work. It's work, you know? People go to their jobs, it's just something that people do. I'm not offended by it at all."
Jackson's sentiments were echoed by other female fans, all of whom said they supported the collaboration and felt like the outside opinions didn't truly reflect the thoughts of actual Hawks fans and locals.
"The women that work there, they choose to work there, they make probably more than I make," Gina Foster said. Both Foster and her husband, Jarrod, were wearing their Magic City hoodies as they ordered drinks inside the stadium.
"I don't think it was downgrading women at all tonight. It was actually uplifting women, the culture of Atlanta," Foster said. "So, I didn't see it that way."
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Phebe, who did not share her last name, said the league speaking out against Magic City but not other issues that impact women was "the pot calling the kettle black."
"When there are other incidents such as domestic violence and other raunchy performances, it's no issue. With Magic City, there was an issue. If you've ever been to Atlanta, or like me are from Atlanta originally, then you know Magic City is a staple in Atlanta, so you don't have to come to a house game to find out about it."
"Well, I say you can't have it both ways, right?" said James Dorsey as he entered the arena. "The NBA is definitely okay with sports betting, but you know, it's not like they were going to have actual strippers out here on the floor... You know, everybody has their opinion, right? I think people just pick and choose what they want to stand up for."
When asked about Kornet's remarks, and the fact that he was not a player involved in the game on either side of the court, fans said the Spurs player just didn't understand the culture, and shouldn't have weighed in.
"I think that everybody does have a right to their own opinion. However, the parties involved should have been the ones who have made the decision," said Darkova, a mom who came to the game with her 22-year-old daughter, and also didn't want to give her full name.
Fans say refunds denied. Could league face legal action?
The fans in attendance obviously cared enough about the game and the halftime show to still attend once the collaboration was cancelled, but many said they had inquired about getting a refund and were denied.
"I feel like we're reneging on it after you've already announced it to the public, and I bought a ticket at a higher price with the knowledge that the collaboration was happening," Jackson, who tried to get a refund and was denied, said. "I feel like that was misleading."
Phebe said she hadn't ruled out taking legal action.
"I found out it was canceled and I'm like, well, can I get a refund or is it going to be a price adjustment since there is no longer a collaboration, in my opinion it was false advertisement," she said. "I haven't found the lawyer to take up my class action yet ... against the NBA. Because, the Hawks were all for the collaboration. So it will be against the NBA."
A spokesperson for the Atlanta Hawks declined to comment on refunds being denied.
Dorsey said he bought his ticket specifically for the collaboration and "paid for the experience as a whole."
"I wanted the refund. I didn't get the experience I was paying for. But, this is the ATL, so I wanted to be part of the culture and the experience," Dorsey said. "I just think the last minute (cancellation) just put a bad taste in the people's mouth, you know? I think with this event, had they let it go forward, it would have been better for the Hawks as a whole because people would have been looking forward to more events."
Jarrod Foster agreed, and said any issues with the event should have been brought up "from the very beginning." Foster said he and his wife didn't seek a refund, but were going to "rep Magic City night regardless."
"It shouldn't have been to where we're able to get merch, order things, buy tickets and then maybe about what, a week before you decide to cancel it? It kind of puts you (between) a rock and a hard place, you know?" Foster said. "The flip side is, I came because of the theme. The other thing is, well that theme's not there, and my money is already in the NBA pocket."
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today's Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Hawks fans supported Magic City collab. Then NBA cancelled last minute