Under president Keith Dawkins, the legendary Harlem Globetrotters have been doing big things over the last few years leading up to their 100th Anniversary season next year.
This week, the iconic brand announced that it was hosting a special event at Madison Square Garden on December 14th as a tip-off to next year’s historic season.
“Madison Square Garden…which is billed as The World’s Most Famous Arena… has hosted some of the most iconic events in sports and pop culture history. We are honored to have the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters kick off our Centennial season at this iconic venue,” said Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios. “From breaking the NBA color barrier with alums like Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton signing a pro contract as a member of the New York Knicks or courting future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins, or Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon dazzling sellout crowds, to ushering women into professional basketball, to enchanting thousands around the world as the first team to globalize the game of basketball, to our current group of men and women who are stars on the court and on every screen, the Globetrotters are unparalleled in their reach, impact, awareness and in what they stand for as ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill.’ This special day will tip off an amazing year for the organization, and we are looking forward to filling MSG with both first-time fans and many who are coming back to again experience our magic in a new, re-envisioned way.”
The special event will feature past and present Globetrotters, special celebrity guests, and more including:
- The participation of over 60 current Globetrotters athletes creating the largest ‘Magic Circle” in Globetrotter history, all wearing a new Centennial uniform created by celebrity designer Jeff Hamilton
- The first-time use of special “Gold Ball” moments that highlight the history of innovating the sport that the Globetrotters have brought to millions worldwide. This limited-edition Gold Ball from Spalding will also be available for purchase at the event,
- Special appearances by Globetrotters alumni and celebrities,
- A special postgame fan celebration with access, autographs and other special moments
- There will also be exclusive New York edition collectibles, new partner product launches for those in attendance including elevated apparel utilizing the special 100 year creative and unique collaborations.
The Centennial Tip off will precede the full kickoff of the Globetrotters 100th Anniversary World Tour which will begin in late December, with dates, locations and ticket information to be announced in September.
Tickets for the MSG event go on sale on Wednesday, August 27th at noon and can be purchased at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Madison Square Garden (4 Penn Plaza) and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters™ and the Tour, visit the Globetrotter’s official website here.
