The Harlem Globetrotters have long entertained audiences with a distinctive blend of basketball talent, humor and family-oriented performance. As the team marks its 100th anniversary tour, fans in Fayetteville will once again fill the Crown Coliseum at 1960 Coliseum Dr. for an event that has become a long-standing tradition shared by multiple generations in the community.

The Globetrotters are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on March 20 as part of their global centennial tour. The milestone season highlights the long history of a team that has entertained audiences around the world while redefining the possibilities of basketball as performance.

The continued popularity of the Globetrotters after 100 years is tied to their ability to evolve while preserving the core elements that first made them famous. The team is known for combining legitimate basketball skill with humor and theatrical moments that invite the crowd into the action. Fans attend expecting impressive ball handling, gravity-defying dunks, and playful interactions that make each game feel less like a traditional sporting event and more like a live entertainment experience.

While professional sports leagues focus on competition and statistics, the Globetrotters emphasize joy and participation. Audience members frequently become part of the show as players engage with fans courtside and throughout the arena.

Another factor that keeps audiences returning is the constant evolution of the performance. Although the team is rooted in traditions that date back to the 1920s, every tour introduces new routines, ball-handling techniques, and on-court comedy segments. These additions help ensure that longtime fans see something different each time they attend a game.

The current tour introduces new visual elements and special moments designed to celebrate the centennial season. A highlight includes a special golden basketball created by the sporting goods company Spalding, which adds a symbolic touch to the  anniversary performances. The team also features new pregame activities and expanded opportunities for fans to interact with players after the game.

The team also carries a legacy that extends beyond entertainment. Over the decades, Globetrotters players have traveled extensively, bringing basketball exhibitions to communities around the world. Their performances helped popularize the sport internationally and introduced countless young fans to the excitement of the game.

The Crown Complex in Fayetteville has been part of that history for nearly half a century. Records show the Globetrotters' appearances at the venue dating back to 1976. Over the years, those performances have become a local tradition that many families look forward to each season.

The 2026 tour also highlights a family legacy within the team itself. Current player Louis J. Dunbar, known as Sweet Lou II, follows in the footsteps of his father, former Globetrotter Sweet Lou Dunbar. 

As the Globetrotters mark a century of performances, their success illustrates how a blend of athletic skill, humor, and audience engagement can remain relevant across generations. For families attending the Fayetteville show this March, the experience will offer more than a basketball game. It will provide a shared moment of nostalgia, laughter, and live entertainment that continues to capture the imagination of audiences nearly 100 years after the team first took the court.

For more information and for tickets, visit https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/harlem-globetrotters-the-100-year-tour