Miami Heat Will Play as "Vice City" on the Eve of GTA 6's Launch

Rockstar Games' marketing push for Grand Theft Auto VI is spilling out of the gaming world and into professional basketball. The Miami Heat have announced a one-night collaboration with Rockstar in which the NBA franchise will temporarily rebrand as Vice City, trading its usual look for the neon pink aesthetic the series is known for.

The event, billed as "A Night in Vice City," takes place on November 18, the night before GTA VI hits shelves. The team will host the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center in Miami, with tip-off set for 7pm ET. The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN, which should put the crossover in front of a national audience well beyond the arena.

The Heat teased a custom-built hardwood court for the night, described as a "never-before-seen" design themed around Vice City. A preview image of the floor was shared alongside the announcement. The team will also wear a brand-new uniform created for the collaboration, though that design is being kept under wraps for now. Only a teaser image has been shown so far, along with a Vice City-styled version of the Heat logo.

Fans heading to the game can also expect special programming, live events, and other game night activations in and around the arena, though specifics haven't been shared yet. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.

The partnership fits a pattern of real-world Miami takeovers as launch day approaches. A "Welcome to Vice City" sign now sits atop the Kaseya Center and lights up at night. Elsewhere, Rockstar and Miami-Dade County have been putting up large-scale signage in downtown Miami, GTA 6 posters have begun appearing on buildings, and a GTA 6 mural is being painted in New York City.

With Rockstar's Vice City-inspired setting based on a fictionalized Florida, tying the game to one of Miami's most recognizable sports franchises is a natural move. Whether or not the uniform and court live up to the hype, the Heat's game against the Bucks looks set to be one of the most visible GTA 6 launch-week moments outside the game itself.