The Harlem Globetrotters have become the newest attraction for a family of theme park operators.  Herschend Family Entertainment has acquired Harlem Globetrotters International, the corporate homebase for the iconic basketball team.  HFE purchased the company from Shamrock Capital Advisors and its minority owners with plans to complement its existing business, which includes 26 attractions across ten states.  The Globetrotters were founded in 1926 and have played all over the world for almost nine decades.

In a statement HFE’s president and CEO Joel Manby called ownership of the Harlem Globetrotters an additional step in the company’s continued development of “wholesome, immersive entertainment that parents can trust.”  HFE’s holdings also include Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park and Splash Country in Tennessee as well as Wild Adventures Theme Park in Georgia.