The Savannah Bananas unleash Banana Ball mayhem on Chicago

The Savannah Bananas, once a quirky collegiate summer league team from Georgia, have peeled away from traditional baseball to become a full-blown entertainment juggernaut. Now, they’re headed to Rate Field for two sold-out Banana Ball games on Aug. 15–16,  bringing their wildly popular twist on the game. Blending high-energy baseball entertainment with a reimagined rulebook, and drawing fans who never thought they’d scream over a foul ball caught by a spectator, what started in 2016 as a small-market team in the Coastal Plain League has morphed into a national sensation.

The Savannah Bananas were founded in 2016 by Jesse and Emily Cole, who were baseball entrepreneurs with a vision to make the game fun again. When they took over a failing minor league team in Savannah, Ga., the team had no name and no fans, and the team had just enough money to get through one season. After The Coles sold their house to raise seed money, they doubled down on making baseball fun for fans.

Instead of sticking to tradition, they introduced music, dancing, and mid-game antics that felt more like a circus than a ballgame. Players performed choreographed routines, umpires got in on the action, and fans became part of the show. It wasn’t just baseball; it was a full-blown sports entertainment experience.

Their motto was simple: “Fans First, Entertain Always.” The gamble paid off. Crowds grew, games sold out, and the Bananas quickly became a viral baseball phenomenon.

In 2023, the Bananas drew over 500,000 fans during the Banana Ball World Tour. After sold-out stops at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium in 2024, they expanded to a staggering 18 MLB stadiums and three football stadiums in 2025. ESPN reported their ambition: “Sellouts are expected at each venue,” bolstered by a growing roster of celebrity former MLB players eager to join the show. One particularly record-breaking stop: Clemson University's Memorial Stadium in South Carolina hosted 80,000 spectators in April 2025.

The Bananas are bringing their two-night spectacle to Illinois for the first time, with tickets available exclusively through a lottery system. Standard bowl seats start at $35, while VIP options are available for $125, further proof that this is one of the hottest tickets in Chicago this summer.

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In Savannah, Banana Ball isn’t just a game; it’s a full-scale immersive baseball event. Players make their entrance to music, break into choreographed dances between innings, and sometimes even play instruments or perform on stilts. While the antics are rehearsed for timing, the game itself remains unscripted, keeping the focus on fun while maintaining spontaneity.

This blend of athleticism and showmanship has earned coverage from Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, 60 Minutes, and even an exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Their reach extends far beyond ballfields: through ESPN and TruTV broadcasts, as well as viral TikTok baseball clips (with over six million followers, more than some MLB teams), the Bananas have become a social media sensation in baseball.

The team’s soaring popularity led to the announcement of the Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL), a new venture set to launch in 2026. The BBCL will feature five teams, including rivals like the Party Animals and the Firefighters, with a championship series played at Grayson Stadium in Savannah.

What makes Banana Ball's Chicago debut so compelling isn’t just the consistent sell-out streak; it’s a cultural shift. In an era of long innings and shortened attention spans, the Bananas have reimagined baseball as fast-paced, fan-focused entertainment. Chicago’s South Side, with its gritty White Sox energy, is the perfect place for a game where rules are flipped and fun takes center stage.

Come mid-August, the Bananas will deliver more than just a game; they’ll bring a full-on baseball party to Chicago, complete with music, mayhem, and a whole lot of yellow. This isn’t just a twist on tradition; it’s a revolution in how America watches baseball.