Latest news with #JesseCole
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers legends help kick off Savannah Bananas' big weekend at Bank of America Stadium
Panthers legends help kick off Savannah Bananas' big weekend at Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, N.C. has gone absolutely bananas. On Friday night, the Savannah Bananas played the first of two sell-out games from Bank of America Stadium—the home of the Carolina Panthers. And before the first pitch was thrown, team creator and owner Jesse Cole addressed the 74,000 fans in attendance. 'It was 18 years ago that we started just down the road here in Gastonia, and it was here when we first dreamed big for the game of baseball,' Cole said, via Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. 'It was here when we first believed that we could create a 'fans first' experience. It was here where we believe we could make baseball fun and create moments fans would never forget. And now, tonight, you are making our dreams come true, because tonight you are kicking off the biggest Banana Ball weekend in history with 148,000 fans (total, over two nights).' Oh, and the festivities didn't kick off without a few Panthers legends. Here—guest-starring Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen and Jonathan Stewart—are the some of the best sights and sounds from the Bananas' first night in Charlotte . . . Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The CW will broadcast Savannah Bananas baseball madness as network leans into live sports
Baseball isn't boring and the CW isn't stupid, at least when it comes to the Savannah Bananas, the Georgia-based team that has rewritten the rules around the classic American pastime. The network has picked up rights to broadcast the July 27 Bananas game at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. "Banana Ball" incorporates humor, gymnastics, lip syncs and snappy dance choreography in a minor league baseball game with rules that definitely don't match those of Major League Baseball — though many of the players once had MLB aspirations. This year the team has sold out 18 major league ballparks, plus three football stadiums with capacities of more than 70,000. Advertisement Read more: Going bananas: Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch The CW in recent years has been leaning into live sports coverage, which has generally been delivering ratings results in a rapidly changing TV-viewing landscape. The network has the NASCAR Xfinity Series, WWE NXT on Tuesday nights, Grand Slam Track, AVP beach volleyball on summer Saturdays, ACC and Pac-12 football games in the fall and, starting next year, PBA professional bowling. The Savannah Bananas come with a built-in audience earned via posts on TikTok, Facebook Reels and the like. The team has 10 million followers on TikTok alone. 'We've always been very clear about our goal,' Bananas owner Jesse Cole told The Times in 2022. 'We exist to make baseball fun.' Advertisement 'It's all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o'clock until the last fan leaves at 11," he added over the weekend, when the team played to a sellout crowd at Anaheim Stadium. Read more: Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun' There's definitely an audience appetite for the Savannah team: There are tickets available for games in August and September, but only through a lottery — and the wait list for the lottery is more than 3 million names long. Last season's games drew a million fans total. On Friday, the only way into the Anaheim game was through the resale market. Hours before the first pitch, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of Bananas tickets on StubHub was $209.52, while it took a mere $171.72 to snag a pair of tickets to the Yankees-Dodgers series opener at Dodger Stadium the same night. Advertisement Who needs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge anyway: Banana Ball has the Savannah team facing rival outfits the Texas Tailgaters, the Firefighters, the Party Animals and the Visitors. And while Ohtani and Judge can be counted on for multiple home runs, only the Bananas deliver baby races, a dancing umpire and backflips before balls are caught in the outfield. Plus the games are limited to two hours max, something even the much-loved MLB pitch clock can't deliver. Read more: Dropped Aaron Judge ball sold by MLB (not Dodgers) gets $43,510 in auction 'The Savannah Bananas have taken the sports world by storm through their high-energy blend of baseball and entertainment that connects with viewers of all ages,' Mike Perman, senior vice president of CW Sports, said in a statement Tuesday. Advertisement 'We are thrilled to partner with them for their broadcast television debut, and we cannot wait to bring our audience every unpredictable play in front of what promises to be an electric atmosphere in Philadelphia.' 'Banana Ball on The CW is a no-brainer,' Bananas owner Cole added in that news release. "After seeing their recent commitment to sports, we knew this could be a great partnership. With the speed and entertainment of Banana Ball, we look forward to creating new fans together in the years to come.' Times staff writer David Wharton and Times fellow Anthony De Leon contributed to this report. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyone's talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
The CW will broadcast Savannah Bananas baseball madness as network leans into live sports
Baseball isn't boring and the CW isn't stupid, at least when it comes to the Savannah Bananas, the Georgia-based team that has rewritten the rules around the classic American pastime. The network has picked up rights to broadcast the July 27 Bananas game at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. 'Banana Ball' incorporates humor, gymnastics, lip syncs and snappy dance choreography in a minor league baseball game with rules that definitely don't match those of Major League Baseball — though many of the players once had MLB aspirations. This year the team has sold out 18 major league ballparks, plus three football stadiums with capacities of more than 70,000. The CW in recent years has been leaning into live sports coverage, which has generally been delivering ratings results in a rapidly changing TV-viewing landscape. The network has the NASCAR Xfinity Series, WWE NXT on Tuesday nights, Grand Slam Track, AVP beach volleyball on summer Saturdays, ACC and Pac-12 football games in the fall and, starting next year, PBA professional bowling. The Savannah Bananas come with a built-in audience earned via posts on TikTok, Facebook Reels and the like. The team has 10 million followers on TikTok alone. 'We've always been very clear about our goal,' Bananas owner Jesse Cole told The Times in 2022. 'We exist to make baseball fun.' 'It's all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o'clock until the last fan leaves at 11,' he added over the weekend, when the team played to a sellout crowd at Anaheim Stadium. There's definitely an audience appetite for the Savannah team: There are tickets available for games in August and September, but only through a lottery — and the wait list for the lottery is more than 3 million names long. Last season's games drew a million fans total. On Friday, the only way into the Anaheim game was through the resale market. Hours before the first pitch, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of Bananas tickets on StubHub was $209.52, while it took a mere $171.72 to snag a pair of tickets to the Yankees-Dodgers series opener at Dodger Stadium the same night. Who needs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge anyway: Banana Ball has the Savannah team facing rival outfits the Texas Tailgaters, the Firefighters, the Party Animals and the Visitors. And while Ohtani and Judge can be counted on for multiple home runs, only the Bananas deliver baby races, a dancing umpire and backflips before balls are caught in the outfield. Plus the games are limited to two hours max, something even the much-loved MLB pitch clock can't deliver. 'The Savannah Bananas have taken the sports world by storm through their high-energy blend of baseball and entertainment that connects with viewers of all ages,' Mike Perman, senior vice president of CW Sports, said in a statement Tuesday. 'We are thrilled to partner with them for their broadcast television debut, and we cannot wait to bring our audience every unpredictable play in front of what promises to be an electric atmosphere in Philadelphia.' 'Banana Ball on The CW is a no-brainer,' Bananas owner Cole added in that news release. 'After seeing their recent commitment to sports, we knew this could be a great partnership. With the speed and entertainment of Banana Ball, we look forward to creating new fans together in the years to come.' Times staff writer David Wharton and Times fellow Anthony De Leon contributed to this report.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Savannah Bananas Visit Disneyland Resort in Southern California During the 70th Celebration
Event Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 link to handout b-roll and soundbites available approx. 3:00pm/PT Description: • Savannah Bananas performing trick shots in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park. • Savannah Bananas gather in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for a special dance number of "Hey Baby" • Cavalcade down Main Street U.S.A. Soundbites: • Jesse Cole, Savannah Bananas owner • Savannah Banana team members ANAHEIM, Calif., May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Greatest Show in Sports, the Savannah Bananas baseball team, delighted fans at Disneyland Resort for a one-day-only experience featuring a special dance number of "Hey Baby" in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a celebratory cavalcade down Main Street U.S.A., and themed food and beverages that excited both Disney and Banana Ball fans alike. Their visit to Disneyland park comes just in time as Disneyland Resort begins its 70th celebration, and right before the Bananas' road games vs. the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on May 30-31, 2025. About the Disneyland Resort Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland Park (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District dining, entertainment and shopping complex. The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and Pixar Place Hotel. When it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland introduced the world to a new concept in family entertainment and continues to use creativity, technology and innovation to bring storytelling to new heights. Open daily, year-round. For more information, guests can visit About the Savannah Bananas: The Savannah Bananas have earned worldwide fame with their one-of-a-kind brand of "Banana Ball" – the fastest and most entertaining game of baseball. Known for their choreographed dances, epic scoring celebrations, flaming bats, and an array of other antics, the team has sold out every game at their home field, Savannah, GA's Historic Grayson Stadium (a.k.a. Bananaland), since their 2016 inaugural season and currently boast over 9.2M followers on TikTok, outnumbering every franchise in Major League Baseball (as well as every team in the NFL, NBA, and NHL). The team has been featured on ESPN, CNN, CBS News, and Sports Illustrated and are made popular by their on-field hijinks and videos. For more information, please visit View original content: SOURCE Disneyland Resort View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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.
