NBA teams’ marketing departments have a new challenge this year. How can they get fans to care about the new in-season tournament? The Hawks took a bold approach to solving that issue.
The league has tried a few things to generate interest in the new tournament format, most notably designing new courts for teams to play on, which were met with mixed reviews. Atlanta’s approach to hyping up its tournament games was a little more risqué.
The team posted a 30-second advertisement on social media on Thursday that is sure to get fans talking. “Only Hawks Fans know where the real action is,” the tagline reads, spoofing the adult social media site, Only Fans. The video features the team’s mascot, Harry the Hawk, posing seductively in bed.
Only Hawks Fans know where the real action is 👀
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 9, 2023
🤭: https://t.co/lbtDNZTrQn pic.twitter.com/k8Kx4QFJDZ
The spot garnered a wide range of reactions from NBA fans.
oops
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 9, 2023
why would you do this pic.twitter.com/BQLXXXO8ks
— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) November 9, 2023
Everybody who had a hand in putting this together deserves a raise 😂😂😂😂
— MR BEAR 🐻🧸🐻❄️ (@teddy_blackmon) November 9, 2023
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) November 9, 2023
Ngl I'm a little bit attracted to the Atlanta Hawks mascot now 👀
— 🌻Ψ Dragøns Imagined ⊬🌻🦃LOVE AND SUPPORT PLATZ🥧 (@Threemenandaben) November 9, 2023
I’ve been defending y’all for years and you just refuse to make it easier huh https://t.co/x6xjxAUgYf
— Tommy Tough Stuff (@PeachStPayton) November 9, 2023
how do i go back to 30 seconds ago when i hadn’t seen this https://t.co/sFXjgeJsBZ
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) November 9, 2023
The Hawks’ next home tournament game is on Nov. 17 against the Sixers. No word on if Harry the Hawk will be fully clothed on the sideline.
