The Miami Heat Become "Vice City" for One Night as GTA 6 Takes Over the NBA on the Eve of Launch

On November 18, 2026, the night before GTA 6 launches, the Miami Heat will play as "Vice City" against the Milwaukee Bucks. It's a spectacular marketing stunt that turns the real Miami into a showcase for Rockstar's fictional city.

What is the Miami Heat's "A Night in Vice City"?

Announced by the franchise in early October, "A Night in Vice City" will see the Heat take the floor on a specially designed court, wearing a jersey reworked in the game's colors. The game will air live on ESPN in the US. The Heat's store already offers a "Vice City" apparel collection.

Why is there a giant Vice City sign on the Heat's arena?

The campaign had already turned heads in late September: huge pink and white "Vice City" letters were lifted by helicopter onto the roof of the Kaseya Center, on the edge of Miami's bay. It's a direct nod to the giant letters seen in the game.

Is Vice City based on Miami?

It's no coincidence: Vice City is the fictional version of Miami. By taking over the real city, Rockstar is blurring the line between Leonida and Florida, just hours before the game's November 19 release.

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