The Savannah Bananas Announce 2025 Stadium Tour

The Savannah Bananas, an independent baseball team known for its unconventional approach to the sport, has announced an expansive tour for 2025. The team will play in 18 Major League Baseball stadiums and three football stadiums from March to September. The announcement was made by the team’s owner, Jesse Cole, on Thursday.

“We played in front of 1 million fans this past year,” Cole shared with ESPN. “We’re playing in front of 2 million fans next year. Maybe that sounds boastful, but our waitlist is at 3 million right now.” The Bananas’ unique brand of “Banana Ball” has garnered considerable attention, leading to anticipated sellouts across all venues.

The 2025 tour will feature 39 games and will include teams such as the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and the newly introduced Texas Tailgaters. Among the football stadiums hosting games are Memorial Stadium, Nissan Stadium, and Bank of America Stadium.

The Bananas’ tour includes multiple appearances in MLB stadiums, following the success of their 2023 tour which saw games played in Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Cleveland, and Washington. The team’s entertaining approach has drawn large audiences, with significant fan engagement at pregame events.

The Bananas’ games feature several innovative rules aimed at enhancing spectator enjoyment. Some rules include ejections for bunt attempts, no mound visits, and the possibility of fans recording outs by catching foul balls. A “golden batter” rule was recently added, enabling any player from any spot in the lineup to be used at strategic moments.

“Now as we go out to these major league stadiums, we’re getting reached out to by a lot more former stars — All-Stars, World Series champions, MVPs — that want to be a part of it,” Cole said, highlighting the growing interest from former professional players.

The Savannah Bananas were founded in 2015 when Cole and his wife, Emily, purchased the former Class A affiliate based in Georgia. The couple overcame financial challenges and turned the team into a hugely popular franchise. With performances, such as players donning kilts and performing dances, the team’s games at their home, Grayson Stadium, have often sold out.

Cole’s vision for Banana Ball includes expanding worldwide, with plans for a Banana Ball Championship League starting in 2026. He likened the team’s approach to that of the Harlem Globetrotters, noting, “We look at ourselves as, we’re building a sport. We’re building something for the future generations to have fun with and really create something truly special.”