Savannah Bananas make biggest announcements ever at 2025 Draft

The Savannah Bananas’ home opening weekend of the 2025 season is scheduled for February 21st

Thursday night was the biggest night in Banana Ball history, according to Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole.

The 2025 Banana Ball World Tour City Draft was about much more than just who and what the players on the Banana Ball team will play. Cole talked about expansion, larger crowds and major upgrades to historic Grayson Stadium.

In 2025, the Bananas will include four teams with the Texas Tailgaters and not only play in 18 Major League Baseball stadiums, but also take over fields in three football stadiums – two of them in the NFL and at Clemson University’s Death Canyon.

But that’s not all. In 2026, Banana Ball will grow to a six-team league with a 60-game nationwide schedule.

And there is more. After the Savannah City Council approved renovations to Grayson Stadium last Thursday, Cole said the changes will be crucial for his hometown fans next season.

“It will be the best Banana Ball experience we have ever provided in Savannah,” Cole said in an interview before Thursday’s draft.

The draft created an almost game-day atmosphere at Grayson Stadium. The right field meadow was filled with about 2,000 seats, most of which were occupied. 3,900 tickets were sold for the event, and there were only a few seats available in the right-field stands when the draft began at 7 p.m.

The announcement of Death Valley as a destination was accompanied by members of Clemson’s marching band. When Nissan Stadium was announced in Nashville, Morgan Wallen’s Broadway Girls performed with a coordinated line dance by banana players.

The Bananas announced 30 home games and home opening weekend is scheduled for February 21st.

Background: On our radar: Savannah Bananas hope to “shock the world” with big announcements at the Oct. 3 draft.

Bigger crowds and more teams

The expansion to 18 MLB stadiums next year is an increase from the five stadiums visited last year. The NFL stadiums slated for Banana Ball in 2025 are Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, home of the Tennessee Titans; and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, home of the Carolina Panthers.

The addition of football stadiums brings with it the potential for larger crowds – Clemson’s Memorial Stadium has a capacity of over 80,000 spectators – and football stadiums are known for having some of the best atmospheres in sports, Cole said. But football stadiums also offer the opportunity to try out Banana Ball’s novelty: the ability to change the game.

Adapting Banana Ball to a football field could mean changing the spacing of outfield fences or field dimensions, changes that could make games more exciting by introducing more home runs or closer outfield spots, Cole said.

“They are the largest stadiums in the country and we try to entertain and serve as many fans as possible,” Cole said.

MLB Family Tree: Going Bananas: Sold-out stay at Fenway, a bucket list item for Savannah Bananas owners and players

The announcements in this year’s draft are products of years of dreams and planning. “Every decision the Bananas make is intentional,” Cole said. The addition of new teams at least stems from the success of the Party Animals, the second Banana Ball team.

The location for the Texas Tailgaters was based on attention to the markets where Banana Ball performs well, and what is one aspect of the sports experience that Texas does well? “Tailgating,” Cole said.

“We have this big vision for the greatest pregame in sports that we’re going to build there,” Cole said.

A championship in 2025, then a league in 2026

The fourth team completes the final part of another addition to Banana Ball in 2025: a championship tournament with games at Grayson Stadium. Cole referred to the season-ending event as the Tour Championship.

This championship is a prelude to the first professional Banana Ball league, scheduled for 2026. The origins of a potential league lie in the founding of Banana Ball, Cole said.

Cole said he saw that Banana Ball had the potential to make every game competitive, unique and new every night.

“Achieving this requires more teams competing and developing storylines,” Cole said. “That was the vision.”

Take a look: Highlights from the Savannah Bananas Banana Ball game at Fenway Park in Boston

Savannah is still home

In the interview early Thursday afternoon, about six hours before the draft began, Cole reiterated the Bananas’ commitment to Savannah. Central to this commitment are upcoming upgrades to Grayson Stadium, which include an all-turf field, a new video board and improved lighting.

A grass field can host games year-round, and Bananas’ visits to major league-caliber stadiums demonstrated the possibilities for the fan experience. Stadiums with better technology allow for live streaming of performances on the Jumbotron and turning off stadium lights to create unique moments like the Fenway Park Telephone Light Show.

More: Savannah Bananas are bringing the Banana Ball World Tour home to Savannah for the final time this season

The renovations will be accomplished through a combination of already earmarked special local option tax funds and funds from Bananas’ Fans First Entertainment LLC. The improvements follow a $2 million investment in additional seating last year.

“I think one of the community’s misconceptions is that we’re leaving Savannah now,” Cole said. “No. We are more committed now than ever and hope our actions show that.”

Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. He can be reached at [email protected].

Savannah Bananas make biggest announcements ever at 2025 Draft

ByJasper

The Savannah Bananas’ home opening weekend of the 2025 season is scheduled for February 21st

Bigger crowds and more teams

A championship in 2025, then a league in 2026

Savannah is still home

By Jasper

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