Live Nation are thrilled to announce that the legendary basketball magic of the Harlem Globetrotters will be heading to the UK to wow audiences across Britain this June.
The Harlem Globetrotters, who begin their UK tour at the LG Arena on Saturday 5 June, are a worldwide icon, synonymous with family entertainment and great basketball skills. The Globetrotters represent 84 years of breaking down barriers, acts of goodwill, and a commitment to fans that goes beyond the game.
Tickets priced from £12.50 - £40 can be purchased online at theticketfactory.com or by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 338 8000.
Abe Saperstein founded the team in 1926, and they played their first road game in Hinckley, Ill., on Jan. 7, 1927. The cheers have never stopped, as the Globetrotters have entertained more than 130 million fans in 120 countries worldwide. For many, the Globetrotter experience was an introduction to the game of basketball. In September 2002, the team confirmed their standing as one of the world’s most influential basketball teams, becoming only the fifth team inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (a sixth team has since been inducted).
In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters stunned the world by twice defeating the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers. They were socially influential and quickly became recognised as the world’s best basketball team, showing that African-Americans could excel on a professional level. Those victories accelerated the integration of the NBA and ushered in a new era of sports.
Former player Mannie Jackson purchased the team in 1993, becoming the first African-American to own a major international sports and entertainment organisation. He led the team to unprecedented levels, tripling its revenue in three years and quadrupling its size in five, cementing its status as the most predominant and recognised sports and entertainment organisations in the world. In September 2005, Burbank-based Shamrock Capital Growth Fund purchased 80 percent of the team from Jackson. Jackson eventually stepped back from day-to-day functions, and the Globetrotters announced the appointment of Kurt Schneider as Chief Executive Officer in May 2007. Jackson remains Chairman of the Board of Directors and retains 20 percent ownership in the team.
The Globetrotters’ show will feature even more amazing basketball skills and wizardry, with a continued focus on family entertainment. Off the court, the organisation will increase alliances with global partners, develop a full line of licensed products, execute a multi-media strategy to gain worldwide saliency, and continue the brand’s legacy of deep social involvement in local communities.
