The 10 Savannah Bananas games will be simulcast on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN and ESPN2. What’s more, these games will be available for live streaming on Disney+ and ESPN+, ensuring that fans can catch the action from anywhere.
‘The Savannah Bananas have mastered the art of blending baseball with entertainment, creating an experience that resonates with fans of all ages, regardless of their baseball knowledge,’ Brent Colborne, ESPN Vice President of Programming & Content Strategy said in a press release. ‘Their unique approach embodies two of ESPN’s key goals: reaching new audiences and inspiring the next generation of youth athletes. With Banana Ball showcased on ESPN and Disney linear and streaming platforms, we are confident new, avid fans will be created.’
The first Savannah Banana game will take place at Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers, on April 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Savannah Bananas schedule
Here is the Savannah Bananas schedule according to ESPN (all times Eastern):
- April 26: 7 p.m. at Clemson University Memorial Stadium, South Carolina, on ESPN2
- May 10: 8 p.m. at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on ESPN2
- June 7: 7 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on ESPN2
- June 28: 7 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on ESPN2
- July 5: 7 p.m. at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on ESPN
- July 26: 7 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on ESPN2
- Aug. 1: 7 p.m. at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on ESPN
- Aug. 2: 7 p.m. at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on ESPN2
- Aug. 9: 9 p.m. at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on ESPN2
- Aug. 15: 8 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, on ESPN2
Savannah Bananas owner on 60 minutes
‘Banana Ball’ is not just a game, it’s an inclusive entertainment experience for everyone, regardless of their age or interest in baseball. The creator of the Savannah Bananas, Jesse Cole, often dresses in a yellow suit and recently shared with CBS’s 60 Minutes that the entire game is designed to be inclusive for all types of fans.
‘The idea is to have something entertaining for everyone, like this 6-year-old leading a crowd warm-up, to appeal to all ages, baseball fans or not,’ Cole said.
In 2015, Cole and his wife founded the Savannah Bananas as a summer collegiate baseball team. They observed that fans, including families, stayed until the end of the games due to various incentives, including all-you-can-eat food. This fueled Cole’s dream of creating a faster and more exciting version of baseball, ensuring a family-friendly and enjoyable experience for all.
(This story has been updated to change a gallery.)