The Miami Heat play as Vice City on November 18, the night before GTA VI
A custom court, Cactus Jack uniforms and Burger Shot at the concessions. What happens at A Night in Vice City, and how to watch.
On Wednesday, November 18, the Miami Heat take the floor as Vice City. They host the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center at 7 p.m. ET. In Miami, GTA VI unlocks five hours later, at midnight.
The Heat call it "a historic partnership" with Rockstar Games and "a never-been-done-before event on the eve of the highly anticipated release." The team's shorter line, as Kotaku quotes it: "For one night only, the HEAT trade Miami for Vice City."
The court and the uniforms
The Heat play on what they call "special hardwood built for Vice City."
The uniform comes from Nike and Cactus Jack, Travis Scott's label. Hypebeast describes a black base with "Vice City" in looping pink script across the chest, and a backwards Nike Swoosh that nods to Scott's reversed logo. The players wear an on-court version. A retail jersey and shorts go on sale on game day, in limited quantities.
Scott has a second GTA VI date that week. He's on the lineup for Rockstar's GTA VI: The Festival at Mana Wynwood in Miami on Saturday, November 21.
In the arena
Select concessions become Burger Shot and Cluckin' Bell, which the Heat call "Vice City's favorite fast-food joints." There's also a Vice City collection, mostly apparel, from US$45 to US$168. It's sold by the Heat's US store, in person and online, in US dollars. The team says more details on game-night activities are to come.
Outside, Kotaku reported in October that a large "Welcome to Vice City" sign had been lit on top of the arena complex.
The basketball
The game has a plot of its own. Giannis Antetokounmpo went from Milwaukee to Miami in an off-season trade, and this is the first Heat-Bucks game since. Bleacher Report calls it his first game against his old team.
It's also not the Heat's first Vice look. In the 2017-18 season they wore pink-and-blue "Vice" uniforms, a nod to the 1980s TV series Miami Vice.
How to watch
ESPN carries the game in the US. In Miami, it's on WPLG Local 10 and 104.3 FM WQAM. Tickets are on Ticketmaster. We couldn't confirm a Canadian broadcaster.
Tip-off around the world:
| Where | Tip-off |
|---|---|
| Vancouver, Los Angeles | 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| Calgary, Edmonton | 5 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| Winnipeg | 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| Toronto, New York | 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| Halifax | 8 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| St. John's | 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| São Paulo | 9 p.m., Wednesday, November 18 |
| London | 12 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
| Paris, Berlin | 1 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
| Dubai | 4 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
| Mumbai | 5:30 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
| Tokyo | 9 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
| Sydney | 11 a.m., Thursday, November 19 |
The last stop before launch
Since late September, Vice City has turned up on a merch box and now an NBA court, and on Saturday it gets a festival stage. The Heat game is the last of it before launch. If you're watching, check that your pre-load has finished before tip-off.
Sources
Sources (11)
- A Night In Vice City (Miami HEAT, NBA.com)
- Miami HEAT to play as Grand Theft Auto VI's Vice City on November 18 (Gematsu)
- Miami Heat NBA team to rebrand as 'Vice City' in GTA 6 marketing stunt (VGC)
- GTA 6 marketing ramps up as Miami Heat announce Vice City night (Kotaku)
- The Miami Heat hit six stars with the Cactus Jack x Nike x 'GTA VI' Vice City uniforms (Hypebeast)
- Miami Heat celebrate GTA VI release night with Vice City promotion vs. Bucks (Bleacher Report)
- Miami Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in blockbuster trade with Bucks (NBC 6 South Florida)
- Bucks schedule: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat in Milwaukee twice (FOX6 Milwaukee)
- Heat unveil Vice City themed uniforms, 2018 (CBS12)
- Grand Theft Auto VI: The Festival (Rockstar Newswire)
- When does GTA 6 preload start? (Vice)