Latest news with #BananaBallWorldTour
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why fans are paying more for Savannah Bananas than a Dodgers-Yankees clash
Image Source: Getty The Savannah Bananas, a quirky baseball team, are more popular than some of the largest Major League Baseball games. On June 1, 2025 their games at Angel Stadium in Anaheim had over 45,000 fans, and of course, tickets were selling for even higher than a Dodgers-Yankees World Series rematch. Here is why fans are spending more to watch the excitement of the Bananas' 'Banana Ball' as opposed to traditional baseball. Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than MLB's biggest game The Savannah Bananas make baseball a big, fun show, and fans are willing to pay more for it. On June 1, 2025, the cheapest pair of tickets for their game at Angel Stadium cost $209.52 on StubHub, while Dodgers-Yankees tickets were only $171.72. Their tickets are sold through a lottery, so they're hard to get, which makes resale prices higher. The Bananas mix baseball with dancing and circus-like fun, creating a lively event like a party. With almost 10 million TikTok followers, their videos spread fast, bringing huge crowds. Last year, they had one million fans, and this year, they expect two million, with three million people waiting for tickets. This huge demand makes their games more expensive than even the Dodgers-Yankees matchup, showing how much fans love their 'Fans First' style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Ilha Solteira (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Also Read: "One whole year of loving you" — Dodgers star BlakeSnell's wife Haeley Ryane celebrates son's first birthday with heartfelt post Banana Ball's unique appeal transforms baseball into a party Banana Ball is very different from regular baseball, mixing sports with fun that everyone loves. Players dance, lip-sync, and even try backflip catches, making the game feel like a big celebration. Special rules, like picking the best hitter once per game, add excitement. Owner Jesse Cole, who loves Disney's magic, makes sure every part of the event, from the parking lot to the field, is fun. Fans come early to buy Bananas gear and meet players, like 9-year-old Carrigan LaCaze hugging her favorite player. The team's recent Disneyland parade with Mickey Mouse shows their special charm. Unlike the serious Dodgers-Yankees games, the Bananas create a happy, welcoming vibe for all ages. This fun and connection, plus their huge social media fame, explain why fans pay more for their tickets than for MLB's biggest stars. The Savannah Bananas make baseball fun and unforgettable, which is why fans love them so much. Their games are not just about sports; they're about creating happy moments. From packed stadiums to viral videos, the Bananas have changed how people see baseball. As they travel for their 2025 Banana Ball World Tour, their popularity keeps growing, proving that fun and connection can beat even the biggest names in baseball. Whether it's dancing players or a kid's dream coming true, the Bananas give fans a show worth every dollar.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What to Know: Savannah Bananas return to Clemson's Death Valley
CLEMSON, S.C. (WSPA) – The Savannah Bananas are returning to Clemson University's Memorial Stadium, also known as Death Valley, for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. The sold-out game between the Bananas and the Party Animals is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 26, at 200 Champion Avenue. Guests attending the game should know the following prior to their arrival: Bag Policy: The Memorial Stadium has a clear bag policy at the Memorial Stadium. The only bags permitted to enter the stadium are the following: Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12' x 6' x 12.' (Official Clemson Tigers logo clear plastic tote bags are available at local retail stores), or One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar). Small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5' x 6.5'), can be taken into the Memorial Stadium. An exception to the Clear Bag Policy will be made for medically necessary items after security screening. Patrons will still be able to carry other items into the stadium such as binoculars, cameras, and smart phones, but their carrying cases will NOT be allowed. First Aid Locations: First aid stations are located at Portal TDK on the north upper deck, Portal TDE on the south upper deck, Portal J on the south concourse, and the Meyer Family Clinic is located at Portal T on the north concourse. Money Policy: Memorial Stadium does not have ATM Machines. All concession locations take debit and credit cards. Binoculars: Binoculars are allowed in Memorial Stadium but their cases will not be allowed. Please refer for more information on prohibited items. Blankets: Blankets are allowed inside to Memorial Stadium and are subject to search by event staff during security screening. Seatbacks: Soft sided seatbacks are allowed into Memorial Stadium, but may be no larger than a single seat (17'') or have non-clear compartments. Tobacco Use: Memorial Stadium in conjunction with Clemson University enforces a tobacco free campus. Tobacco products are not allowed. Pre-sale parking in reserved zones for the Savannah Bananas game in Clemson on April 26 is sold out! However, thousands of free spots remain available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. Parking lots open at 8 a.m. Fans are encouraged to approach campus from the east via Hwy 93 and Perimeter Rd, where thousands of free parking options are located. For those approaching from the west, Seneca Creek Meadows and NewSpring lots will be open for those approaching from the west and have shuttle bus options. View the Campus Parking Map ADA Parking (with placard only) is available off Hwy 93 on Calhoun Drive near Tillman Hall and Sikes Hall. A link to navigate to the ADA Lot is available here. For questions regarding parking, please email support@ Pre-game parking in ADA Lot (Sikes Hall): ADA placard (state placard) must be visible. The ADA person to whom the ADA placard is issued must be in the vehicle. Uniformed officer at intersection will admit vehicle. Entrance to ADA lot is off Hwy 93 on Calhoun Drive near Tillman Hall and Sikes Hall. A link to navigate to the ADA Lot is available here. Parking attendant at entrance to ADA lot will give each vehicle two (2) ADA wristbands for the game (game is indicated on wristband). Wristband will be required for admittance to ADA bus shuttle. Bus driver will check for wristband. Only ADA person and one (1) escort will receive a wristband. Fans in wheelchairs will be loaded first. ADA bus shuttles will take fans to Gate 1 of Memorial Stadium. The buses will make multiple runs until all ADA fans with wristbands have been delivered. No open cups, cans, or food is allowed on any bus. A university parking enforcement officer will be on site to address any exceptions to the above policy or any other ADA issues. Their decision will be final. ADA Accommodations Post-game: ADA bus shuttles will be at gate 1 throughout the game to take fans with ADA wristbands back to Sikes Hall/Parkway Drive. A link to navigate to Gate 1 is available here. Only fans with ADA wristbands will be allowed on the ADA buses. Bus drivers will check for wristbands. ADA buses will leave as soon as buses are full. ADA buses will return to gate 1 after dropping fans at Sikes Hall/Parkway Drive. ADA buses will return to gate 1 as many times as possible to deliver all fans with ADA wristbands to Sikes Hall/Parkway Drive. The following road closures will be in place around Memorial Stadium prior to the game: Avenue of Champions between Centennial Blvd. and Williamson Rd. will close at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Portions of Williamson Rd., Centennial Blvd. and Press Rd. immediately adjacent to Memorial Stadium will close to vehicle traffic at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Traffic Contra-flow traffic patterns, similar to those used for home football games, will be enacted depending on traffic conditions. Updates on traffic patterns will be provided via @ClemsonSafety on X and Facebook and @cu_policedept on Instagram. Directions to Parking Zones and On-Campus Lots Zones B, C, I From Seneca: Utilize SC-93 corridor from Hwy 123 to appropriate zone. From Central/Easley: Utilize SC-93 corridor to appropriate zone. Zone C should turn onto Perimeter Road and right into Zone C. From Anderson: Utilize US-76 to SC-93. Utilize SC-93 corridor to appropriate zone. Zone C should turn onto Perimeter Road and right into Zone C. Zones D, E, F, G, H From Seneca: Utilize SC-93 corridor from Hwy 123 turning onto Perimeter Road to appropriate zone. Alternate: Shiloh Road to J. P Stevens to Old Cherry Road. Take Old Cherry to Cherry Road to Perimeter Road to appropriate zone. From Central/Easley: Utilize Hwy 123 to US-76 to Perimeter Road to appropriate zone. Alternate: SC-93 to Newman Road to Perimeter Road to appropriate zone. From Anderson: Utilize US-76 to Perimeter Road to appropriate zone. ADA Parking, Zones A & K and Northeast Campus Lots From Seneca: Utilize Hwy 123 to US-76 to SC-93 corridor to appropriate zone or desired lot. From Central/Easley: Utilize Hwy 123 to SC-93 corridor to appropriate zone or desired lot. From Anderson: US-76 to Perimeter Road. Turn right onto Newman Road. Left onto SC-93 to appropriate zone or desired lot. Southeast Campus Lots, including C1, BC, STI From Seneca: Utilize Shiloh Road to J. P Stevens to Old Cherry Road. Take Old Cherry to Cherry Road to Perimeter Road to desired lot. From Central/Easley: Utilize Hwy 123 to US-76 to Perimeter Road to desired lot. Alternate: SC-93 to Newman Road to Perimeter Road to desired lot. From Anderson: Utilize US-76 to Perimeter Road to desired lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
ESPN to broadcast 10 Savannah Bananas games this summer on heels of MLB opt out
The Savannah Bananas are officially mainstream. Along with taking their showmanship on a 'Banana Ball World Tour' this summer, the exhibition baseball team will have 10 of its games broadcast on ESPN and Disney platforms, the company announced Monday. That slate will include games at Fenway Park, Camden Yards and the Clemson Tigers' Memorial Stadium. Advertisement The summer tour will kick off on April 26 at Memorial Stadium, the first of three games played in football stadiums — the Tennessee Titans' Nissan Stadium and the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium being the others. The games will air on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN and ESPN2 and will be simulcast live on Disney+ and ESPN+, according to a news release. 'The Savannah Bananas have mastered the art of blending baseball with entertainment, creating an experience that resonates with fans of all ages, regardless of their baseball knowledge,' Brent Colborne, ESPN Vice President of Programming & Content Strategy, said in the release. 'Their unique approach embodies two of ESPN's key goals: reaching new audiences and inspiring the next generation of youth athletes.' ESPN and the Bananas previously partnered on a 'Bananaland' docuseries, and the network has broadcast a handful of standalone games in the past, including a July 7, 2024 game in Buffalo which averaged 460,000 viewers. The Bananas news comes less than two months after ESPN announced that it would conclude its coverage of MLB games after the 2025 season. The network, which has broadcast the league since 1990, opted out of a seven-year contract that averaged $550 million per year. 'Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport's appeal or performance on their platform,' MLB said in a February statement. '… ESPN's demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable. As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate our agreement.' In the league's counter withdrawal, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred called ESPN a 'shrinking platform' in a memo to team owners. Last week, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that MLB has held discussions about licensing its game package to networks and/or digital platforms. NBC, Google, YouTube and Fox are among those who have shown some level of interest in ESPN's package, according to sources briefed on the talks. Advertisement The Bananas are one of the greatest sports start-up success stories of the 21st century. In less than a decade, the Bananas have turned into the ultimate example of how a maniacal focus on fan-friendliness can generate intense interest and loyalty. Sell-outs are the norm, and every challenge of larger venues — 80,000 will fill Clemson's football stadium on April 26 — is easily hurdled. (Bookmark Sept. 13-14, when the Bananas go to Yankee Stadium.) To be sure: It is an 'apples and oranges' — or, more accurately, 'apples and bananas' — to try to compare Major League Baseball with the Savannah Bananas. But at a moment when ESPN is divesting from MLB, it is at least notable that the network will enthusiastically deliver valuable airtime to Bananaball. Even if ESPN isn't giving the Savannah Bananas a dime to broadcast their games, it is great summertime content for ESPN. Bananas games are intentionally constructed to finish in two hours, which makes them ideal for TV. And there is enough visual stimulation and peripatetic action to keep fans engaged. — Dan Shanoff, sports business managing editor
