The Harlem Globetrotters will make two appearances in the area in January, first in Fort Wayne on Jan. 2, and again in South Bend on Jan. 25. (File photo by Mike Deak)
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters will take fan interaction to a new level when the 2014 “Fans Rule” World Tour comes to the Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at 7 p.m.
The Globetrotters will also visit the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the campus of Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at 7 p.m. Online voting is now open at harlemglobetrotters.com/rule, where all fans can choose which new game-changing rules they want to see in South Bend.
The Globetrotters were the first organization in sports and entertainment to let fans vote on rules when the team introduced the concept last year. Since the fan response was so overwhelming, the team is doing it again – but with a major twist.
The 2014 online ballot includes three never-before-seen revolutionary rules:
* Hot Hand Jersey – Both teams will have a “Hot Hand Jersey” they can pass among each other. The player who is wearing this jersey will receive double points on made baskets.
* Make or Miss – The quarter begins with only two players on the court for each team. When a team scores, a teammate may enter the game. When they miss, the player missing the shot must leave the court, leaving his or her teammates shorthanded.
* Trick Shot Challenge – Via three challenge flags per team, each coach can challenge the other team to make a trick shot. If the team makes the trick shot, they earn five points. If they miss, the other team receives five points.
With a roster showcasing stars such as Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Hi-Lite Bruton and Dizzy Grant – plus female stars TNT Maddox, T-Time Brawner and Sweet J Ekworomadu – the Globetrotters’ one-of-a-kind family show features mesmerizing ball handling, an assortment of trick shots, high-flying dunks and precise timing – all with an array of comedy guaranteed to entertain the young and the young at heart. After virtually every game, Globetrotter stars remain on the court for autographs and photographs with fans.
Tickets start at $21 for the Fort Wayne appearance and are now available at harlemglobetrotters.com, memorialcoliseum.com or the Memorial Coliseum box office.
Tickets start at $19 for the South Bend appearance and are now available at harlemglobetrotters.com, www.und.com, the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center box office or by phone at (574) 631-7536.
Information on group and scout tickets can also be found at harlemglobetrotters.com.
The Globetrotters’ United States winter tour begins on Dec. 26, with the Globetrotters playing more than 290 games in over 250 cities in 47 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico through April 2014.
The Original Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating its 88th consecutive year, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans—among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents—over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters’ official Web site: harlemglobetrotters.com.