MILWAUKEE — The excitement of basketball fans, both young and old, could be felt in Fiserv Forum on Friday as the Harlem Globetrotters made their return to Milwaukee. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Harlem Globetrotters have played in Milwaukee on New Year’s Eve since the 1960s

  • The team didn’t play in Milwaukee in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic

  • While some performers had required masks to be worn, these are the first two events where arena officials themselves required masks since June 2021 

  • Fiserv Forum officials said masks will be required for near-future events to help slow the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19

“It’s a Harlem Globetrotters tradition to play here in Milwaukee on New Year’s Eve,” said Globetrotter Hammer Harrison.

2021 kicked off the newest world tour for the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, who like all other athletes and performers, didn’t get a chance to perform and play through all of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Harrison has been on the team for 12 years, and said not being able to play, was hard. 

“It was tough,” Harrison said. "It was tough. With the pandemic, a lot of sports organizations weren’t touring, so we weren’t the only ones, but now we have the opportunity to get back into these arenas and bring smiles to peoples faces and bring joy to peoples lives."

The tricks, the dunks, all of that was back again on New Year’s Eve in Milwaukee, a tradition going back to the 1960s. 

Also back, for those in attendance, were masks. While some performers had required masks to be worn, these were the first two events where arena officials themselves required masks since June 2021.

With both Globetrotters shows, and back-to-back Marquette and Bucks basketball games, Fiserv Forum officials said they wanted to do everything possible to protect those in attendance from the omicron variant — which is spreading quickly through the state and country. 

Despite that, Harrison said being able to play in front of fans — especially the kids — makes it all worth it. 

“We always want to be positive role models for kids. We want to inspire them not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Harrison said. "We teach kids to have a healthy mind and body, to work out, to read a book, to work on their mental health, because mental health is important these days. We definitely want to put an emphasis on that, and help kids through these tough times." 

Fans didn’t seem to mind the masking, seeming to be happy enjoying quality time with family at a longstanding Milwaukee New Year’s Eve tradition.