The Globetrotters return for a third time to Moody Coliseum Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. They visited ACU in 2008 and in 2012 bringing large crowds both years.

John Houser, assistant director of athletic for operations, thinks the third trip will still bring in a large audience with multiple nuances.

“They don’t do the same show twice,” Houser said, “there will be some similarities but also a lot of new stuff and new players.”

The Globetrotters have visited much larger venues than Abilene.

“It’s a big deal for Abilene itself because of the small town surrounding,” said Cory Driskill, associate director of athletics for student-athlete wellness.

One difference will be the fans’ participation in an online vote as part of the “Fans Rule” World Tour. Fans can vote on multiple rule changes in the game by tweeting or going to the #vote tab at Harlemglobetrotters.com. For example, the “Hot Hand Jersey” rule will allow players to pass a jersey amongst themselves. The player wearing the jersey will receive double points for a shot.

Fan participation has been key in all of the globetrotter’s performances and could help bring the Trotters back in the future.

“The nice thing about Abilene is that it is one of the bigger cities in this area of west Texas so it’s a big deal for them to want to come back,” Driskill said.

Tickets cost $22.00 and can be found on either the Harlem Globetrotter’s website or at acusports.com. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the game. Fans are encouraged to purchase soon, because previous games drew large crowds, especially the 2012 appearance that brought 3,200 fans to Moody Coliseum.

“We will probably have around three or four thousand fans,” Houser said.

The roster includes some of the most out-of-this-world players and nicknames. Stretch Middleton, for instance, is the third tallest player in the Trotters history at 7′ 4″. Too Tall Hall is another player known for his height but because he stands at 5′ 2″. The roster also includes familiar faces and names from previous games like Big Easy Lofton, Special K Dailey and TNT Maddox.

The North American leg of the “Fans Rule” World Tour started Sept. 20 and will not end until April 15, with the Globetrotters playing almost 300 games. The trip covers most of North America with games in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico. This tour celebrates the 88 years that the original Harlem Globetrotters have entertained fans around the world.