The Harlem Globetrotters returned to Columbus for two performances at the Schottenstein Center on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, with games set for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The team faced off against its longtime foil, the Washington Generals, in a friendly competition.
According to Yahoo Sports, presale tickets were scheduled to go live at 10 a.m. Tuesday on Ticketmaster, with general sales set to open at 10 a.m. Sept. 30 through harlemglobetrotters.com. Fans at the Columbus stop could have had the chance to step onto the court during what the outlet described as a fan-filled Halftime Skills Showcase, part of a broader push for more audience interaction from the floor to the jumbotron.
New Gear and a Special Game Ball Headline the Tour
Both squads are debuting new uniforms and fan merchandise as part of this version of the tour, and organizers are unveiling a Harlem Globetrotters Rivals replica game ball made by Spalding. The ball is described as a limited-edition hybrid basketball that blends design elements from both the Globetrotters and the Generals, a nod to a rivalry that has now stretched on for 75 years. The tour also offers pregame Magic Pass experiences.
The Globetrotters have a history in Columbus, having performed there during their world tour as well as during the previous Spread Game tour in 2021, per Yahoo Sports. This is not a new market for the team, but the retooled rivalry format and added fan touches give the December dates a different flavor than past visits.
A Century of Barnstorming Basketball
The Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1926, and the organization now describes itself as entering its Centennial season, according to harlemglobetrotters.com. The team has showcased its brand in over 124 countries and territories across six continents. The Globetrotters were also the first team ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the organization notes.
The team plays more than 400 games each year worldwide, and its centennial-season tour is expected to roll through more than 200 domestic markets and over 125 international markets, per the same source. That season is set to officially tip off with a special event at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 14, 2026, according to harlemglobetrotters.com.
Sourcing differs on just how many Guinness World Records the Globetrotters currently hold: harlemglobetrotters.com states the team holds more than 80, while Sporting News cites more than 60. Sporting News also reports that the team planned a world tour with several North American shows across 2025 and 2026, part of the same broader centennial push.
