ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Employees at Atlanta’s well-known adult entertainment club, Magic City, said they are disappointed after learning their collaboration with the Atlanta Hawks was canceled.
Many in the city were surprised by the NBA’s decision to shut down the Monday night promotion, including the Hawks, who said they respect the decision.
“It was very disappointing, very hurtful,” Treec, the club’s operations manager, said.
The initial pushback came when San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet spoke out against the collaboration, citing the objectification of women and saying it would reflect poorly on the NBA community.
But Treec told Atlanta News First that the club is about supporting women, too.
“Of course we do, people are here by choice. We don’t force anybody to come and dance, we don’t force anybody to do what they don’t want to do,” she said. “But I understand how he feels.”
Treec said the goal of the Monday event wasn’t to offend anyone.
“It’s not like we were going to have strippers jumping out the ceilings in parachutes,” she said.
The game was supposed to include a performance by rapper T.I., Magic City’s famous wings, and a special Magic City hoodie. Now, T.I. will still perform and there will be wings, but the hoodie won’t be available at the game. Pre-orders will still be honored.
Treec has worked at the club for 17 years and credits owner Michael ‘Magic’ Barney with shaping the city’s culture.
“It’s more than a strip … it’s so many people who have come out to Magic City and have became something, doing something with their lives,” Treec said. “And he motivates people to do things outside of strip … he’s like a father figure to the whole club, to the community.”
Here’s the full statement from Magic City:
“We would like to thank Atlanta and our supporters around the world for the incredible outpouring of love and support. It’s a powerful reminder of the community we’ve built over decades.
While we’re disappointed that the partnership will not move forward, we understand the complex position the NBA faced and respect the league’s decision. Our respect for the Atlanta Hawks remains unchanged—they are our neighbors, friends, and an important part of the city we love.
For more than 40 years, Magic City has been proud to serve as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s hospitality, food, music, and nightlife culture. We remain committed to providing a safe, professional, and empowering environment for our performers, staff, and guests.
We firmly denounce abuse, exploitation, or mistreatment in any form and stand for the dignity and safety of everyone in our industry.
If anything, this moment shows that Atlanta stands united. We’re proud to represent the culture, energy, and creativity that make this city special, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate and support the community that supports us.”
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