
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment and comedy in their style of play. They are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year. In June and July 2024, the Harlem Globetrotters will return to Australia and New Zealand for their Spread Game tour, honouring the late and great Curly Neal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of visit | 2024 |
| Month of visit | June and July |
| Dates of the tour | 21 June to 16 July |
| Number of locations | Over 15 |
| Previous year's tour | Sold out |
| First formed | 1926 |
| Number of Guinness World Records | 21 |
| Number of games Curly Neal appeared in | More than 6,000 |
| Number of exhibition games played | More than 26,000 |
| Number of countries played in | 124 |
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What You'll Learn

Harlem Globetrotters' 2024 Australian tour dates
The Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their Spread Game tour to Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2024. The world-famous basketball team will visit over 15 different locations across the tour, including Darwin, which they are returning to for the first time in decades.
The Harlem Globetrotters are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year. They combine athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. The team currently holds 21 Guinness World Record titles and has set nine new records on Guinness World Records Day in 2018.
The Spread Game tour is all about honouring the late and great Curly Neal, who played for 22 seasons with the Globetrotters between 1963 and 1985, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries.
The tour will begin on 21 June and conclude on 16 July. Fans can register for access to a pre-sale of tickets. Specific dates and locations are yet to be announced, but the Harlem Globetrotters are expected to thrill crowds with full-court family fun, including jaw-dropping dunks, strong fan engagement, entertaining characters, and sensational ball handling.
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The history of the Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment and comedy in their style of play. They are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year and entertaining more than 148 million fans in 123 countries and territories worldwide. The team is known for its unique basketball skills, including slam dunks, fast breaks, and ball handling wizardry.
The Harlem Globetrotters were formed in 1926 on the South Side of Chicago, where all the original players were raised. They began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savoy Ballroom. In 1928, several players left the team and formed a new group called the "Globe Trotters." That same year, Abe Saperstein became involved with the team as its manager and promoter. By 1929, Saperstein was touring with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." He selected the name ""Harlem" because it was then considered the centre of Black American culture, and "Globetrotter" to mythologize the team's international venues.
The Globetrotters continued to dominate the basketball scene in the 1930s and 1940s, winning the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940. In 1948, they made headlines by beating one of the best white basketball teams in the country, the Minneapolis Lakers. In the 1950s, the rise of the National Basketball Association (NBA) began to eclipse the Globetrotters' popularity, as NBA teams started recruiting Black players. Despite this, the Globetrotters continued to enjoy immense popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with their own cartoon show on CBS and a live-action Saturday morning variety show called "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine."
The Harlem Globetrotters have broken down barriers and acted as ambassadors of goodwill throughout their history. In 1951, they played before their largest crowd ever - 75,000 people at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. After this trip, the U.S. State Department named the team "Ambassadors of Extraordinary Goodwill." The Globetrotters have earned the accolades of many world leaders, including special acknowledgment from Presidents Eisenhower and Ford for their service to mankind.
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Harlem Globetrotters' playing style
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. They are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year and attracting large crowds. The team is known for its unique basketball skills, thrilling fans with jaw-dropping dunks, strong fan engagement, entertaining characters, and sensational ball handling.
The Globetrotters were formed in 1926 and have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories. They are known for playing against deliberately ineffective opponents, such as the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals. The team has become synonymous with family entertainment and breaking down barriers and social divides. They hold 21 Guinness World Record Titles and have set nine new records on Guinness World Records Day in 2018.
The Harlem Globetrotters' playing style has evolved over the years, incorporating more comedy and entertainment. In the 1950s, with the racial integration of the National Basketball Association, the opportunities for competitive games diminished, and the team shifted its focus to comedic entertainment. Reece "Goose" Tatum, who joined in 1941, is credited with introducing comic routines into their act. The team became known for their humorous antics and tricks, as evidenced by a review in the state-run Pravda newspaper during their 1959 tour of Moscow. The review stated, "This is not basketball; it is too full of tricks," while also praising the Globetrotters' skills and suggesting that "they have some techniques to show us".
The Harlem Globetrotters' signature moves include spectacular ball handling, humorous antics, and theatrical performances. They have a signature song, "Sweet Georgia Brown," whistled by Brother Bones, and their mascot is an anthropomorphized globe named "Globie." The team has honoured its outstanding players, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Marques Haynes, Curly Neal, Meadowlark Lemon, and Goose Tatum, by retiring their numbers.
The Globetrotters are returning to Australia in June and July 2024 as part of their Spread Game tour, honouring the late Curly Neal, who played for 22 seasons with the team. They will visit over 15 locations across Australia, including Darwin, thrilling fans with their unique blend of basketball skills and entertainment.
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Harlem Globetrotters' Spread Game tour
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. They are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year. The team was first formed in 1926 and has played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories.
The Harlem Globetrotters are returning to Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2024 for their Spread Game tour. The tour will begin on June 21 and conclude on July 16, with the Globetrotters visiting over 15 different locations across Australia and New Zealand. This will be the first time in three years that the Globetrotters have toured Australia, and fans can expect a full-court family fun experience, including jaw-dropping dunks, strong fan engagement, entertaining characters, and sensational ball handling.
The Spread Game tour is all about honouring the late and great Curly Neal, who played for 22 seasons with the Globetrotters between 1963 and 1985, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. The Harlem Globetrotters are synonymous with family entertainment and breaking down barriers and social divides. They currently hold 21 Guinness World Record titles and have set nine new records on Guinness World Records Day in 2018.
The Globetrotters have a rich history, dating back to the 1920s when they formed on the South Side of Chicago. They began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savoy Ballroom. In 1928, several players left the team and formed the "Globe Trotters," touring southern Illinois. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team and, by 1929, was touring with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Saperstein selected the name ""Harlem" because it was then considered the center of Black American culture, and "Globetrotter" to mythologize the team's international venues.
The Harlem Globetrotters have introduced people all over the world to basketball for nearly a century. In addition to their athletic skills, the Globetrotters have worked comic routines into their act, becoming known more for entertainment than sports. Their live shows are more than just witnessing a game—they are an event.
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Harlem Globetrotters' 2025 World Tour
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment and comedy in their style of play. They are one of the most popular entertainment brands in the world, performing hundreds of live shows every year. In 2025, the Harlem Globetrotters will embark on a new global tour, visiting cities worldwide. Although the exact locations and dates are yet to be announced, previous tours have included stops in Australia and New Zealand.
The Harlem Globetrotters have a long and illustrious history, dating back to their formation in 1926. They have played over 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries, often against deliberately ineffective opponents such as the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals. The team became known for their unique blend of basketball skills and entertainment, thrilling millions of fans worldwide. They hold 21 Guinness World Records and have broken nine new records on Guinness World Records Day in 2018.
In 2024, the Harlem Globetrotters will return to Australia and New Zealand from June 21 to July 16. They will visit over 15 different locations, including Darwin, thanks to the support of the Northern Territory Government and Northern Territory Major Events Company. This tour will be their first time returning to Australia in three years, and fans can expect full-court family fun, including jaw-dropping dunks, strong fan engagement, entertaining characters, and sensational ball handling.
Although there are no confirmed dates for the 2025 World Tour, the Harlem Globetrotters have previously expressed their excitement to bring their show back to Australia. Hungry Jack's NBL Commissioner, Jeremy Loeliger, stated: "We are so excited to bring the Harlem Globetrotters back to Australia for their Spread Game tour... It's been three long years since they last toured Australia, and we are sure basketball fans from across the nation will come out in droves to enjoy a world-class night of family-friendly entertainment."
Stay tuned for more updates on the Harlem Globetrotters' 2025 World Tour, and don't miss the chance to catch their thrilling and entertaining basketball showcase in a city near you!
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Frequently asked questions
The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to Australia for their Spread Game Tour in June and July 2024.
The Harlem Globetrotters combine basketball skills with theatre, entertainment and comedy in their style of play. Their shows include full-court family fun, jaw-dropping dunks, strong fan engagement, entertaining characters, and sensational ball handling.
You can register for access to a pre-sale of tickets on the NBL website.











































