The Savannah Bananas are set to go international, requiring passports as Banana Ball expands beyond borders for the first time in 2027.
This exciting development sees the Savannah Bananas, along with five other teams known for their lively brand of baseball entertainment, planning visits to Canada and Mexico next year. Additionally, Banana Ball is also scheduled to be played at 23 Major League Baseball venues and 10 football stadiums in 2027, as announced by owner Jesse Cole on Thursday.
In a conversation with The Associated Press, Cole reflected on the overwhelming success of Banana Ball since he established the Savannah Bananas in 2016. For the upcoming 2026 season, he has added five new teams.
The initial goal behind the creation of the Savannah Bananas was to spark fan interest in baseball at the historic Grayson Stadium located in Savannah, Georgia.
“We were just beginning to sell tickets and trying to move off the air mattress we were sleeping on,” Cole shared.
Bananas right-fielder Reese Alexiades makes a catch between his legs in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/The Associated Press)
The schedule for 2027, revealed on Thursday evening during an ESPN2 broadcast, includes games in Monterrey, Mexico, on February 5-6, and Tijuana, Mexico, on February 12-13.
Moreover, the Banana Ball itinerary features dates at Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 14-15, as well as two appearances in Winnipeg on August 26 and August 28.
“These international dates have been a decade in the making,” Cole commented.
This year, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, unveiled an exhibit dedicated to the Savannah Bananas, recognizing Cole’s achievement in attracting younger audiences who appreciate the unique antics, such as a pitcher throwing from stilts and fans catching foul balls for outs.
In a game steeped in tradition, the Savannah Bananas are blowing up the rules of baseball, and it’s paying off with an 800,000-person-deep waitlist for tickets to a game. The team’s co-founder says it’s all about putting fans first.
On June 26, the Banana Ball will introduce another innovative twist at Notre Dame Stadium, where two baseball fields will be set up in opposite corners of the football venue, allowing teams to switch fields after each inning. This setup aims to give every fan a closer view of the gameplay.
Cole also shared that Disney has created a documentary film chronicling the rise of the Savannah Bananas and Banana Ball, which will premiere at Atlanta’s Truist Park on June 12.
With minor league stadiums included, the 2027 Banana Ball Championship League tour will cover 79 stadiums across 74 cities, and Cole anticipates that the tour will attract around 4.3 million fans.