The Savannah Bananas, a unique independent baseball team that has captivated audiences across the nation, will showcase their distinctive “Banana Ball” format at 18 Major League Baseball stadiums and three football stadiums in 2025, as announced on Thursday.
Owner Jesse Cole expressed confidence in the popularity of the tour, expecting sellout crowds at venues including Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. “We played in front of 1 million fans this past year,” Cole shared. “Next year, we’re aiming for 2 million. Our waitlist is currently at 3 million.”
The Bananas will embark on a 39-game tour from March to September, accompanied by other teams including the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and a new addition, the Texas Tailgaters. In Chicago, the team plans to play on August 15 and 16.
The selected football stadiums for the tour are Memorial Stadium in Clemson, Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, and Bank of America Stadium, the home of the Carolina Panthers.
The Bananas will also play two games each at the home stadiums of several MLB teams, including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and more, totaling a diverse lineup.
These announcements were made during the organization’s annual “world tour city draft” on YouTube, where fans had the chance to enter a ticket lottery through the team’s website.
In 2023, Banana Ball made a notable impact at six MLB stadiums, including Miami and Philadelphia, drawing large crowds eager for pregame festivities. The events attracted former major league stars like Ryan Howard and Roger Clemens, showcasing the growing popularity of the unique baseball format.
Banana Ball was introduced over five years ago with the intention of increasing the speed of the game and enhancing fan engagement. This innovative style incorporates 11 distinct rules, such as automatic strikes for stepping out of the batter’s box and allowing fans to challenge calls. Unique aspects include batters sprinting to bases on a fourth ball and an innovative one-on-one showdown for extra innings.
Recently, a “golden batter” rule was added, which grants each team one chance to use any hitter from their lineup freely.
In a significant recognition of their impact, Cole’s original idea book for Banana Ball is now part of an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Additionally, the announcement included the launch of the Banana Ball Championship League in 2026, aimed at establishing this format globally.
Cole reflected on the journey from struggling to sell an untraditional baseball experience to becoming a nationwide sensation. With aspirations to further expand the sport, he noted, “We look at ourselves as building something for future generations to have fun with and create something truly special.”
The Bananas began their journey in 2015 when Cole and his wife purchased a former Class A team in Georgia, facing financial struggles before finding success with their entertaining approach to the game. The team’s mascot and whimsical events transformed their games into major attractions, drawing from a legacy that continues to grow.
“It’s something I could’ve never imagined,” Cole stated. “Walt Disney has been my biggest mentor forever. He said, ‘It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.’ I just feel, in many ways, we are doing the impossible.”