Jesse Cole had always dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. Instead, he found success as the owner of Savannah Bananas – an independent professional team that has taken an established sport like baseball and reinvented it entirely with their version of “Banana Ball”, drawing huge crowds to its games while even Major League Baseball has begun adopting their entertainment-driven style of play.
As soon as Friday night’s Aviators game at Victory Field began, fans had already begun filling both seating areas and standing two-deep on the lower concourse – all due to Savannah Bananas coming for a doubleheader weekend doubleheader. It was sold-out game.
Before the game even starts, there’s plenty to keep spectators occupied before its beginning – from dance competitions on the dugout and trying to catch bananas over a foul ball net to crowdsourcing baby carriers as players run around bases a la the “Lion King.”
All this pregame fun and more are part of what Cole refers to as their “fan-first” philosophy that pervades everything they do both on and off the field. One room off their home clubhouse has been converted into a prop closet filled with toilet seats stacked atop bins filled with costumes from French maids to sharks – ideal for pregame entertainment during each game!
At its heart, Bananas’ success can be summed up as one factor: likeability. Every player interviewed by The Guardian appeared not only content but truly happy to be part of this team. Their exuberance spread quickly to fans who then encouraged each other and the rest of the audience.
One pillar of the Bananas’ business model relies heavily on social media. A team, led by former MLB players, dedicates much of its efforts towards posting and promoting games through TikTok alone – garnering more than 2.8 million followers there alone! Furthermore, there is also a dedicated staff who manage their own social media and take orders for team merchandise from across the country and internationally.
Bananas bring their hit performances to Las Vegas as part of an extensive 33-city tour that has sold-out every venue they’ve played at – with up to 600k people on their waiting list for tickets to future matches! The Bananas have attracted fans from throughout the Western United States who eagerly anticipate each sold-out game! Victoria Gardner and Bella Beristaia both told The Guardian they saw the Bananas on TikTok and were thrilled to experience them live for the first time. Additionally, several more said they came specifically to support them; many hope the team comes back soon! The next Bananas game is Wednesday in Portland followed by four at home starting August 7th. A version of this article originally appeared in ESPN The Magazine June 28th issue.