The Harlem Globetrotters at Oracle Arena

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on December 4, 2015

Known internationally as both amazing entertainers and ambassadors of goodwill, The Harlem Globetrotters are one of the oldest and most recognizable franchises in sports history. Their unique nicknames, ball handling wizardry, amazing trick shots, and comedic stunts combined with community service programs and exemplary sportsmanship have provided smiles to millions of fans around the world for decades. The famous team will bring their unrivaled family show to Oracle Arena in Oakland this January during their 90th Anniversary World Tour.

The team began in 1926 when Abe Saperstein took over as coach of an independent touring team called the Savoy Big Five, named after a Chicago district. At their very first game in January 1927, they wore jerseys that read “New York” even though they were a Chicago team, because Saperstein believed that people would assume they were world-class athletes if they were from New York. Saperstein later renamed them the Harlem Globetrotters because all the players were African-American (Harlem being a predominantly African-American neighborhood in New York).

The team played hundreds of games a year and got so good that they played in a national championship in 1939 against another independent team, the New York Renaissance. The Globetrotters lost, but that same year they discovered that the crowd liked it when they did ball tricks and comic routines, so Saperstein told them to do as much of that as possible, provided they’d already established a comfortable lead. The Harlem globetrotters have only grown from there, developing their one-of-a-kind show into a lively family event. They’ve brought on several iconic men and women basketball players throughout the years while touring hundreds of countries and bringing smiles to people around the globe with their basketball artistry.

The Globetrotters announced that their 90th anniversary celebration tour will include The Great Assist Program, where team members will leave a mark in communities across North America with acts of goodwill during the tour that is set to play over 330 games in 260 cities. Fans are encouraged to visit GreatAssist.com to nominate a worthwhile cause or a deserving family in need, and the Globetrotters will help as many fans as possible throughout the tour.

In addition to fan requests, the team is planning to bring their bullying prevention program to over 400 schools and community centers, talk to youth about character education and physical fitness, visit children’s hospitals, and lend a hand at local volunteer organizations. On the court, the tour will feature all the incredible ball-handling skills, rim-rattling dunks, unbelievable trick shots, elaborate plays, hilarious comedy and fan interaction that the famed team is known for. This year’s star-studded roster features some of the greatest athletes and entertainers on the planet, including Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm – plus female stars TNT Maddox and Sweet J Ekworomadu. Fans are invited to join Globetrotter stars after the game where they will stay for autographs, photographs, and high fives.

The teams plays the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Saturday, January 23rd at 7:00pm, and tickets start at $25. To avoid traffic, eliminate the stress of finding parking, and have a memorable evening with your friends and family, consider Nationwide Limousine Service to provide a luxurious ride to and from the game. Our party buses, limousines, and luxury SUV’s accommodate groups of all sizes and ages, so that you can turn any night out into a lasting memory. Call NLS Limo today at 800-339-85936 for additional information.