Madison Square Garden has hosted many significant events in sports and pop culture. The Harlem Globetrotters are hoping to add their centennial season tip-off on Dec. 14 to that list.
“When you consider the historic moments people remember at the world’s most famous arena, there aren’t many brands that can claim a 100-year legacy — touring globally, impacting lives, and spreading joy, hope, and laughter,” said Globetrotters President Keith Dawkins to amNY. “Beginning this centennial at the Garden is simply magical, right?”
Since their founding in 1926, the Harlem Globetrotters have advanced the game and overcome barriers, making Madison Square Garden a fitting starting point for their centennial season, emphasizing their New York roots.
“The first player to sign a professional basketball contract with the Knicks was a Harlem Globetrotter,” Dawkins explained, referencing Sweetwater Clifton, who broke the NBA racial barrier in 1950. “The Globetrotters introduced aspects now taken for granted, impacting not just basketball but professional sports, forever changing the landscape.” Thus, what better place to begin the next century than basketball’s Mecca?
This “Once in a Century” event celebrates every era of the Globetrotters’ 100-year history. On the court, over 60 current Globetrotters will create the largest Magic Circle in team history. The team will introduce “Gold Ball” moments highlighting their creative impact on the sport, with fans able to purchase a limited Spalding Gold Ball in the arena. The day will feature alumni and celebrity appearances, a postgame fan celebration with autographs and special access, and exclusive New York collectibles. The goal is a fast-paced, family-friendly show blending 100 years into the present.
Visually, the brand is revamping its look for the century ahead, returning to the Globetrotters’ roots. “We’ve brought back the classic red, white, and blue with designer Jeff Hamilton,” Dawkins said. Hamilton, renowned for his 75th-anniversary NBA jackets and player collaborations, brings a legacy-honoring touch to the storied franchise.
While other sports explore entertainment, basketball remains the most adaptable, with moves, music, and rhythm combining seamlessly. Dawkins emphasized this heritage: “Before Kyrie, Steph, and Luka, the Globetrotters set the stage for entertainment-style play, merging sport with fashion and music. The Globetrotters pioneered these elements.”
While the centennial event reflects on the past, the Globetrotters also aim for audiences experiencing the magic for the first time. “For some, it’s their introduction to basketball, to the wizardry and skill,” Dawkins said. “It’s also an introduction to American culture, Black culture, women in sports. It broadens perspectives.”
This vision aligns with the Globetrotters’ “Ambassadors of Goodwill” role, a title held for decades. “Dubbed by the State Department as Ambassadors of Goodwill, we’ve shared basketball and American values worldwide,” Dawkins said. “Hearing that we introduced people to basketball or American culture is special.”
This “special way” sets the tone at games. “At a Globetrotter game, no one’s yelling at referees or the opposing team,” Dawkins noted. “It’s the best of us, and it’s truly special.”
Later this month, the Globetrotters take their centennial celebration on tour, infusing each stop with history. The 100-year tour launches at MSG at noon on Dec. 14.
When/Where: Sunday, Dec. 14, 12:00 p.m., Madison Square Garden
Tickets: Ticketmaster and the MSG Box Office; group and accessibility options available
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