If you haven’t heard of the baseball team before this week, you should probably take notice now. This coveted entertainment experience, which began as collegiate summer team in Georgia, is on many folks’ radars for its unique approach to America’s pastime. You can see a game broadcast on ESPN2 for the first time this week, with 9 more games between May and August that will also be streamed live on Disney+ and ESPN+.
The team plays something akin to baseball, with several tweaks to the game to make it more exciting and engaging for spectators, even to those who aren’t fans of the original. There are trick plays, a player on stilts, and mid-game dance routines, but prohibitions on bunting and mound visits. If a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out. The game, dubbed banana ball, has a two-hour time limit. But these are real games in the sense that the baseball part is unscripted, and both teams are actually trying to win.
The Bananas currently play in a 4-team professional league with home games in Savannah that are always sold out. They’ve become so popular that they travel as part of a ‘world tour’ to major league stadiums from Boston to Denver and San Diego and even sold out a March appearance at Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This non-traditional take on baseball might not appeal to purists but aims to provide something memorable for everyone in attendance. In addition, team owner and creator Jesse Cole has departed from sports marketing norms in several ways, including an all-you-can-eat experience at its home park which is also notably free of any advertising. (The banana-themed cocktails cost extra.) The organization keeps ticket prices low and tries to prevent resellers from making attendance unattainable, even for families.
Have you seen a Bananas game? If not, what are you waiting for?
Activities:
- Ask students: Do you like to attend pro or semi-pro baseball games? Why or why not?
- Show students the video about the Savannah Bananas from 60 Minutes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hluf-1XUb2k.
- Ask students to form small groups and determine the 4Ps that are used by the Savannah Bananas. They may need to do a bit of research on their own. What ideas do they have for the organization to continue to grow?
Sources: Stahl, Leslie, (13 Apr 2025) Savannah Bananas bring new life to baseball, dancing and playing by their own rules, CBSNews.com. Flores, Elizabeth, (17 Apr 2025) ESPN to broadcast 10 Savannah Bananas games from April to August, USA Today.
