Heat to Debut New Uniforms and Court for 'A Night in Vice City' Ahead of GTA VI Launch

Key points

• The Miami Heat will wear a new, never-before-seen Vice City-themed uniform against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 18.
• The game will feature a special court design and unique in-arena programming to transform Kaseya Center into the fictional setting of Vice City.
• The event is scheduled for the day before the official release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19.
• The partnership includes a $1 million marketing deal with the city of Miami, featuring signage at Miami International Airport and on manhole covers.
• The new uniform is described as a completely reimagined design, distinct from previous Vice-themed jerseys introduced between 2017 and 2021.

Background

The Heat have a history of using Vice City themes, having introduced a City Edition uniform in 2017-18 and subsequent variations like 'Vice Nights' and 'Sunset Vice' through 2020-21. The franchise revived the white version in 2024-25 and used the black version as their City Edition in 2025-26. This new collaboration marks a significant escalation in promotional efforts compared to previous seasons.

How outlets are covering it

SportsLogos.Net and NBA.com emphasize the historic nature of the partnership between the Heat and Rockstar Games, highlighting the unprecedented sports crossover and the $1 million city-wide marketing deal. Fox News frames the event as part of a massive cultural moment, noting that GTA VI is likely the biggest entertainment release of all time and that the Heat are joining a broader pop-culture barrage. ESPN's coverage was unavailable due to a server error, so no perspective could be extracted from that outlet.

Why it matters

This collaboration represents a unique convergence of professional sports and video game marketing, leveraging the massive anticipation surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI. It demonstrates how major sports franchises are utilizing cultural events to drive engagement and revenue through exclusive merchandise and themed experiences.

What to watch

The Heat and Rockstar Games plan to release more details about game-night activations in the coming weeks. The Vice City collection from the Heat's Court Culture line is already available for purchase, and the team will continue to promote the event leading up to November 18.