From TikTok To Primetime: Savannah Bananas Get Major ESPN Spotlight
Instagram | Savannah Bananas
The Savannah Bananas are stepping up to the big leagues, or at least the big screen.
Founded by Jesse Cole in 2016, the Savannah Bananas aren't just a baseball team; they're a full-blown show, and have gained traction on social media almost instantly thanks to their unique baseball style.
Savannah Bananas Go Big!
ESPN and Disney announced they'll broadcast and stream 10 of the Bananas' wildly entertaining games this summer, marking the most extensive media partnership yet for the team that's redefined what a baseball game can be.
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Two games will air on ESPN, eight on ESPN2, and all 10 will be available for streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+.
'Where Walt Disney sat at a bench in Griffith Park with his two daughters on the carousel and said, 'I wish there was a place where adults and kids could have fun together,' I had a similar mindset when I was sitting and coaching in the Cape Cod League,' Cole told Front Office Sports. 'I remembered how much fun it was playing, but it wasn't as fun watching.'
That inspiration led to 'Banana Ball,' a fan-first, fast-paced take on the sport that includes two-hour time limits, no bunting, and even the ability to steal first base. Walks, mound visits, and stepping out of the batter's box? All banned.
Savannah Bananas Went From Air Mattresses To ESPN
What you get instead is a mix of competitive play, choreography, music, and crowd-hyping antics that feel more like a rock concert than a nine-inning game.
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'You could never imagine this,' Cole said. 'When we first came to Savannah, we sold a handful of tickets. My wife and I had to sell our house, empty out our savings account. We were sleeping on an air bed.'
Savannah Bananas Sell Over 2 Million Tickets, And The Waitlist Is Even Wilder
Now? The Bananas have sold over two million tickets for their summer tour and have a waitlist topping three million. This season's stops include a sold-out show at Clemson's football stadium with over 80,000 fans on April 26, and two nights at the Panthers' stadium in Charlotte with over 150,000 attendees combined.
'To have sold-out crowds on TV or on our streaming platforms just shows general interest,' said Brent Colborne, ESPN's VP of programming and content strategy, told Front Office Sports. 'When the crowd is completely crazy in the seventh inning and they truly care because it's like a rock concert and baseball game at the same time, you're gonna want to watch.'
With 9.5M TikTok Fans And ESPN On Board, Savannah Bananas Are Baseball's New Empire
This isn't ESPN's first rodeo with the Bananas.
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The network previously produced the "Bananaland" docuseries and aired select games. But this summer marks a deeper collaboration, and one ESPN hopes will continue to attract younger and more diverse viewers.
'It's truly innovative what they're doing. We look at ESPN and Disney as innovative companies, and we want to be alongside for the ride on that,' Colborne added.
Cole, who compares his approach to Disney's early TV days, understands the power of content and community. The Bananas exploded on social media thanks to their viral 'Can't Stop the Peeling' music video and now boast 9.5 million TikTok followers.
Even their rival team, the Party Animals, has racked up 2.6 million fans.
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'As soon as we saw TikTok start, we knew it was perfect for us,' Cole said. 'The music, the dancing, the skits, the promos, all of that.'
Savannah Bananas Promise 1,500 New Moments This Season
The experience also changes nightly, thanks to hours of weekly rehearsals.
'People don't realize, every single show is completely different,' Cole shared. 'We do 10-15 things every night that we've never done before in a live crowd. So in a given season, we're doing 1,500 brand new things that are remarkable or marketable or unique or memorable.'
With ESPN and Disney now on board, the Savannah Bananas are poised to turn America's pastime into America's next must-see streaming obsession.
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