Banana Ball (2 Viewers)

[IrishTwinkie]

Where are yall seeing these prices? I’m guessing it must be on the secondary market and not from the Bananas themselves. If so, you are railing against the supply/demand curve.(again, I paid $40 a head to see them in sold out Clemson). Like it or not, they are popular. 10M TikTok followers, 3M on instagram. A waitlist of 3million to see a game live. Might not be your cup of tea, but they are drawing eyeballs. Serious business baseball has a problem. Its fans are getting older and older, and the in stadium experience is boring with entirely too many breaks. Cole’s whole point with the team is to make it fan friendly. He is being successful and drawing new people to the game. Something serious business baseball is struggling to do.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

It’s supposed to be fun you old fart curmudegeons.

They're the same folks who secretly rooted for the Yankees in The Bad News Bears and wanted Ray Kinsella to sell his farm. They're secretly also the people who are killing baseball because they want shorter games and longer home runs and if that's what they want they should leave baseball alone and start watching men's slow pitch softball instead. Those guys don't even have to circle the bases, which saves even more time, and as a bonus, most games are double headers and good for a fight or two breaking out.

 

[WDIK2]

I have a buddy (55 years old, former small college baseball player) that loves the Bananas. His son (26 years old, former small college baseball player) hates it because he thinks it goes against the "integrity of the game."

I think it's fun and entertaining, but agree that in no way whatsoever should it be on an ESPN main channel instead of a CWS super regional game. The viewer ratings might disagree though.

 

[Desert_Power]

Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not. Also, people on my FB feed who lean to the more religious side in Oklahoma tend to enjoy it more than the rest of my FB friends .

Saw someone post that they went on Friday and called it a “bucket list” item. Huh

 

[zamboni]

Buddy of mine asked if I wanted to see the Bananas at Yankee Stadium in September. Cheapest ticket on TickPick is $300

Yeah, no.

Couple grand to bring the family to see the Bananas lmao. Hey kids…..you wanna go to Disney for the weekend or see the Bananas?

In fairness that's the secondary market jacking the price. Banana do a lottery system to buy tickets at normal prices

That’s fair but how many people are going to win the lottery and pay a reasonable price? Most are probably going to have to pay secondary market prices given the supply/demand.

 

[El Floppo]

Most are probably going to have to pay secondary market prices given the supply/demand.

They're not being forced to... They can choose not to.

I had never heard of this until we were trying to find a family movie to watch last night and checked Disney.. live game on. My 13yo daughter had seen the tiktok videos so was aware of it.

It was insane. And fun.

Even though I played the sport as a kid, it's even boring to play, let alone watch. I still love the kind of zen Americana experience of it for a few innings, especially live (sound of the bat hitting the ball, the green, green grass against players unis, etc)... But then I'm out. Haven't watched a full game live or TV in decades and quite ok with that.

Banana was insane and fun.. and I get it. More circus than baseball- and that's ok. (Eta...i kept thinking about WWF vs real wrestling) A good thing for viewing purposes- especialky for a family. It's insane and fun.

I still turned it off after a few innings.

 

[zamboni]

Most are probably going to have to pay secondary market prices given the supply/demand.

They're not being forced to... They can choose not to.

Of course - just saying if you’re really jonesing to see it, it’s gonna cost a ton.

 

[El Floppo]

Theres a sport called "Panna"- 1v1 soccer in a small octagon cage with tiny goals. It's played in 3 short rounds with a DJ playing loud beats and 3 style judges.

You get points for having flair and being entertaining as much as scoring goals. The game ends if you Panna (nutmeg) your opponent.

I loooove it. These guys are insanely good, even though if you put them into a "real" game and they'd probably be just ok to not so great. I don't care- it's a different sport entirely using the same concepts... and it's a blast for me to watch. I see Banana as similar.

 

[General Malaise]

It’s supposed to be fun you old fart curmudegeons.

They're the same folks who secretly rooted for the Yankees in The Bad News Bears and wanted Ray Kinsella to sell his farm. They're secretly also the people who are killing baseball because they want shorter games and longer home runs and if that's what they want they should leave baseball alone and start watching men's slow pitch softball instead. Those guys don't even have to circle the bases, which saves even more time, and as a bonus, most games are double headers and good for a fight or two breaking out.

Buddy, I just wanted to watch a college world series game as scheduled and not another 2 innings of Thunder from Down Under with bats and gloves. Can we agree that the Banana Slugs are a fun thing and also that it shouldn't pre-empt important games that matter where some of us might have money on the outcome?

 

[rogwadd]

Didn't they start as a single A team that was struggling and a more basic version of concept came about as a marketing effort to get people out to games? It succeeded and they expanded the concept and took the show on the road?

They did not. My parents retired to Savannah in 1980. The minor league team was the Savannah Sand Gnats which was in Savannah 1984-2015, before relocating to Columbia, SC. Grayson Stadium is close to 100 years old and there were no plans to build another.
The Sand Gnats were affiliated with several MLB teams. The Bananas took over Grayson Stadium when the Gnats left town.

Savannah Sand Gnats - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[belljr]

Until 2022, the Bananas competed as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League's (CPL) West division, where they won three Petitt Cup championships (2016, 2021, and 2022). In 2018, they began playing exhibition games outside of the CPL season under the Banana Ball format.

 

[Nipsey]

My buddies and I started a Banana fantasy league last year. I drafted a great team thanks to the staff over at bananaballguys.com. It’s been awesome and I’ve been dominating. I had the 1.1 pick and took the pitcher on stilts (think Randy Johnson but from the sky! Unhittable!)

We finally went to a game live last month. In addition to my fantasy team I had the yellow peels -175 BIG. They had it locked up until with two outs in the 9th the center fielder botched a routine fly ball trying to do a cartwheel into a double backflip on the catch. I was furious! Just catch the ball! I took my anger out a little too much on one of our friends who brought his 10-year-old daughter Caitlyn to the game. It was supposed to be just a guys day so I gave him some crap about Caitlyn being there in the first place. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In extra innings Caitlyn made a beautiful sliding catch (full extension) by the cotton candy quesadilla stand to win the game for the Bananas. The crowd went nuts! As i hoisted Caitlyn up on to my shoulders I yelled, “you just won me 562.87!” We let her and her dad know she’d be welcome any time we went to a game where fan participation actually impacts the outcome. My friend has an idea for "Tallyho Tennis" where the players are blindfolded, have to hit every shot between the legs and only on the beat of constantly changing music. Caitlyn’s planning to bring her racquet if and when that ever comes to fruition.

 

[BassNBrew]

Buddy of mine asked if I wanted to see the Bananas at Yankee Stadium in September. Cheapest ticket on TickPick is $300

Yeah, no.

Couple grand to bring the family to see the Bananas lmao. Hey kids…..you wanna go to Disney for the weekend or see the Bananas?

Hey kids, should I make the next two months mortgage payments or should we go see Taylor Swift?

 

[BassNBrew]

Went to one this year at RayJay in Tampa. 70,000 there, blew me away. It’s not for me but people liked it and my kid loved it. It just felt like carnies meet wwf meet the worst baseball players you’ve ever seen doing tricks and not even the kind of tricks most people on Dale Mabry are willing to pay for.

I can see this being very popular with kids, moms who drink white wine out of red solo cups and the patrons of the Blue Oyster Bar.

It shouldn't pre-empt the college world series on ESPN, though. That's crap.

I don’t understand why people would watch it on tv. Seems like an in-person thing to me (there’s just a lot of noise and a lot going on) and the games don’t mean anything but people love it.

Globetrotters was a good comp. I'd take my kids to this if it were in town and tickets were affordable - I think when I took my older boys to the Globetrotters 15 years ago, tickets were $20-30? Reasonable. And fun!

This would be fun too but it belongs on The Ocho if ESPN insists on televising it.

A program director at ESPN forced viewers to watch the end of Banana Ball instead of bringing us Game 2 of FSU/OSU. I don't have ESPN+ or News - I pay very enough of a cable bill already. Do better ESPN.

I think they almost matched the Panthers entire attendance in this weekend.

 

[Judge Smails]

Yeah Globetrotter-ish for exhibitions only but it would get really old to me if I saw this for more than a few innings. Love what they are doing from a business model though

 

[zamboni]

Yeah Globetrotter-ish

Waiting for the Savannah Bananas on Gilligan’s Island TV movie.

 

[El Floppo]

My buddies and I started a Banana fantasy league last year. I drafted a great team thanks to the staff over at bananaballguys.com. It’s been awesome and I’ve been dominating. I had the 1.1 pick and took the pitcher on stilts (think Randy Johnson but from the sky! Unhittable!)

We finally went to a game live last month. In addition to my fantasy team I had the yellow peels -175 BIG. They had it locked up until with two outs in the 9th the center fielder botched a routine fly ball trying to do a cartwheel into a double backflip on the catch. I was furious! Just catch the ball! I took my anger out a little too much on one of our friends who brought his 10-year-old daughter Caitlyn to the game. It was supposed to be just a guys day so I gave him some crap about Caitlyn being there in the first place. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In extra innings Caitlyn made a beautiful sliding catch (full extension) by the cotton candy quesadilla stand to win the game for the Bananas. The crowd went nuts! As i hoisted Caitlyn up on to my shoulders I yelled, “you just won me 562.87!” We let her and her dad know she’d be welcome any time we went to a game where fan participation actually impacts the outcome. My friend has an idea for "Tallyho Tennis" where the players are blindfolded, have to hit every shot between the legs and only on the beat of constantly changing music. Caitlyn’s planning to bring her racquet if and when that ever comes to fruition.

Show me your mf-ing rooster

 

[-OZ-]

We went to a game in Indy a couple years ago. BIL works for a charity that was donated tickets, both for staff and to auction off as a fundraiser.
I dislike watching baseball but the bananas were highly entertaining. Definite globetrotter type except their opponent wins far more often.

 

[-OZ-]

Yeah Globetrotter-ish

Waiting for the Savannah Bananas on Gilligan’s Island TV movie.

Bananas and Scooby Doo will be epic

 

[-OZ-]

(Eta...i kept thinking about WWF vs real wrestling

Except, IIRC, the games aren’t fixed or scripted.

 

[zamboni]

Yeah Globetrotter-ish

Waiting for the Savannah Bananas on Gilligan’s Island TV movie.

Bananas and Scooby Doo will be epic

And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling ballplayers.

 

[Kanil]

This is cute and all but there is real baseball being played with major consequences and I can't watch it because of this? WTF? Somebody needs to be fired at ESPN.

Good news for me is it was during the Rockies game. Saved me some heartache! Eff the Monforts.

 

[B Maverick]

Went to one this year at RayJay in Tampa. 70,000 there, blew me away. It’s not for me but people liked it and my kid loved it. It just felt like carnies meet wwf meet the worst baseball players you’ve ever seen doing tricks and not even the kind of tricks most people on Dale Mabry are willing to pay for.

I can see this being very popular with kids, moms who drink white wine out of red solo cups and the patrons of the Blue Oyster Bar.

It shouldn't pre-empt the college world series on ESPN, though. That's crap.

If it wasn't for the poll on age demographics of this board, I would think this reference would go over most heads.

 

[General Malaise]

Went to one this year at RayJay in Tampa. 70,000 there, blew me away. It’s not for me but people liked it and my kid loved it. It just felt like carnies meet wwf meet the worst baseball players you’ve ever seen doing tricks and not even the kind of tricks most people on Dale Mabry are willing to pay for.

I can see this being very popular with kids, moms who drink white wine out of red solo cups and the patrons of the Blue Oyster Bar.

It shouldn't pre-empt the college world series on ESPN, though. That's crap.

If it wasn't for the poll on age demographics of this board, I would think this reference would go over most heads.

I was trying to employ a little tact.

 

[beer 30]

I think they almost matched the Panthers entire attendance in this weekend.

Something like 148,000 over two days? Crazy

Last week my FB feed was all Metallica, this week the Banana's

 

[Joe Bryant]

Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not. Also, people on my FB feed who lean to the more religious side in Oklahoma tend to enjoy it more than the rest of my FB friends .

Really?

 

[El Floppo]

Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not. Also, people on my FB feed who lean to the more religious side in Oklahoma tend to enjoy it more than the rest of my FB friends .

Really?

this is interesting. my wife- not a sports fan at all- immediately dismissed Banana as being something for one political bent only. my reaction...

 

[Gally]

Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not. Also, people on my FB feed who lean to the more religious side in Oklahoma tend to enjoy it more than the rest of my FB friends .

Really?

this is interesting. my wife- not a sports fan at all- immediately dismissed Banana as being something for one political bent only. my reaction...

I have only watched clips of the bananas but how is it political to come to that conclusion?

 

[El Floppo]

Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not. Also, people on my FB feed who lean to the more religious side in Oklahoma tend to enjoy it more than the rest of my FB friends .

Really?

this is interesting. my wife- not a sports fan at all- immediately dismissed Banana as being something for one political bent only. my reaction...

I have only watched clips of the bananas but how is it political to come to that conclusion?

no idea... that's why the

but pmedina's comment about FB seem to say something similar... that's why it's interesting, at least to me.

from my eyes, this is a fun, family friendly version of baseball (better than Baseketball) looking to entertain folk. I don't get the religious or political associations at all (from extremely limited viewing).

the couple innings I watched on Saturday included something mid-inning about a foster family, along with a baby-crawl race. there was also the giant cross with jesus rounding the bases wearing a maga hat.

I may have made up part of that.

honestly- unless there's prayer or direct support for political candidates happening in the stadium, I don't get it making that leap. maybe it's a bias towards the south/Savannah.. .whereever this originated?

 

[Joe Bryant]

Agreed. I don't see it as political or religious in any way. But maybe I'm missing something.

The main thing though I was asking about was the "Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not."

 

[cheese]

It's not for me, but I would take my kids if they ask me to. I'm surprised the number of adults who like it, but as others have mentioned Globetrotters and WWE are the same way.

 

[beer 30]

Agreed. I don't see it as political or religious in any way. But maybe I'm missing something.

The main thing though I was asking about was the "Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not."

I feel like this is indicative of the times where people just pick a nit to pick a nit. The Savannah Banana's are the minor league baseball version of the Globetrotters. Kids love them, they are fun, the crowd gets involved but you're always going to find somebody that looks at that and finds an issue with it. There's no politics, no religion, it's just stupid fun baseball that entertains.

Now, get off my lawn

 

[Desert_Power]

I think they almost matched the Panthers entire attendance in this weekend.

Something like 148,000 over two days? Crazy

Last week my FB feed was all Metallica, this week the Banana's

Tepper is making a killing. Went to Metallica last week which was very cool and packed.

 

[Fat Nick]

We took the kids to see them in Philly last summer. Longest merch line I've ever seen. Every single stand had a line 100+ people long. I'll give them credit - it was all demand and not at all slow workers. They hustled.

The game itself was a lot of fun - and unlike the Globetrotters who are scripted to win, I don't think the Bananas are. They lost the night we saw them. I was a big fan of the ump personally - hilarious dance moves.

 

[IrishTwinkie]

The game itself was a lot of fun - and unlike the Globetrotters who are scripted to win, I don't think the Bananas are. They lost the night we saw them. I was a big fan of the ump personally - hilarious dance moves.

The umps were hilarious. While I enjoyed the home plate ump, the 1st base ump cracked me up. Dressed like a ninja. Every call there was some flip/spin/what ever and then the call. Then he went back into his "video game avatar mode", slightly swaying back and forth like any open scene character generation scene. Think Fallout4. Very amusing.

The WWE analogies are apt. Not cause they are busting chairs over people heads or anything. But because they can get the crowd to pop, almost on demand. They had folks who were good on the mic, interacted with the crowd at all levels of the stadium, and kept a frenetic pace. It was fun to watch. I saw them in Clemson's Memorial Stadium. So

• To open the game they bus the team to the top of the hill like they'd do for a football game. Complete with inside the bus video being fed to the jumbotron. Cue crowd pop.
• They had Dabo Sweeny meet them on the top of hill (maybe he was on the bus and I missed it). Cue larger crowd pop.
• Have them all run down the hill... Cue massive crowd pop.
• They had 3-4 different Clemson football highlights that everyone popped on. Think big games/win. Like when they beat Alabama. (Not a Clemson football fan, so you'll have figure out when that clip was played.... most people in the stadium knew tho...)
• CJ Spiller helped celebrate a home run.

I think there were a few other things that I've forgotten. (A few field goal attempts come to mind). They had the crowd eating out of their hands.

Again, they are working hard to give the fans their money's worth and more for their entertainment dollar. Gasp. The horror. (Again, tickets were 40-60 a head in the lottery, hardly bank breaking)

 

[pmedina]

Agreed. I don't see it as political or religious in any way. But maybe I'm missing something.

The main thing though I was asking about was the "Fans of this make my list of red flags on whether we could be friends or not."

Somewhat of a joke, but just not my type of thing and most people I enjoy spending time with agree when it comes up. I live in Oklahoma so most folks are religious and there’s probably no correlation. All good to those that like it.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Man are we ****ed.

 

[AAABatteries]

We took the kids to see them in Philly last summer. Longest merch line I've ever seen. Every single stand had a line 100+ people long. I'll give them credit - it was all demand and not at all slow workers. They hustled.

There’s always money in the banana stand.

 

[zamboni]

We took the kids to see them in Philly last summer. Longest merch line I've ever seen. Every single stand had a line 100+ people long. I'll give them credit - it was all demand and not at all slow workers. They hustled.

There’s always money in the banana stand.

Certainly have to dole out a lot of it.