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The CW will broadcast Savannah Bananas baseball madness as network leans into live sports

BBG News

Instead of finding baseball and CW television dull, there’s a refreshing exception when it comes to the Savannah Bananas, a Georgia-based team that has innovatively revised the conventions of traditional American baseball. Remarkably, the network has secured broadcasting rights for the Bananas game scheduled on July 27 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The “Banana Ball” event blends humor, gymnastics, lip sync battles, and lively dance routines within a minor league baseball game. Unlike Major League Baseball, it follows unique rules; however, some players initially aimed for the Major Leagues. In this year alone, they have managed to sell out 18 major league ballparks, in addition to three football stadiums with seating capacities exceeding 70,000 spectators.

Sports

Jesse Cole, the proprietor of Savannah Bananas, fulfilled his aspiration as he visited Disneyland, following in the footsteps of Walt Disney, and witnessed two completely sold-out matches at Angel Stadium.

Over the past few years, The CW has been focusing more on live sports broadcasting, a move that’s been quite successful in an ever-evolving television viewing environment. They air events like NASCAR Xfinity Series, WWE NXT on Tuesday evenings, Grand Slam Track, AVP beach volleyball on summer Saturdays, ACC and Pac-12 football games during the fall, and starting from next year, PBA professional bowling matches.

The Savannah Bananas boast a dedicated fanbase stemming from their popular content on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook Reels, and more. Impressively, they have amassed over 10 million followers solely on TikTok.

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This year, the Savannah Bananas, a minor league baseball team, embarked on their inaugural “Global Journey,” showcasing their distinctive style of baseball in numerous American towns and cities.

In 2022, Jesse Cole, the proprietor of Bananas, made it abundantly clear to The Times that their objective has consistently been crystal-clear: “Our purpose is all about making baseball enjoyable.

The focus is on providing energy. Our aim is to keep supplying energy, ensuring it’s available every second, from the time we open the gates at 2 PM until the last spectator departs at 11 PM, as he emphasized during the weekend when the team played a sellout game at Anaheim Stadium.

Sports

The Savannah Bananas have tossed aside traditional baseball regulations, drawing crowds numbering in the thousands. It’s their unique approach to play, known as Banana Ball, that has piqued the interest of Major League Baseball.

There’s clearly a strong demand for the Savannah team, as evidenced by the fact that tickets are on sale for their August and September matches, but only through a lottery system. Interestingly, the waitlist for this lottery has surpassed 3 million applicants. Last season, all games collectively attracted over a million spectators.

Or simply:

The Savannah team is highly sought-after, as indicated by the availability of tickets for their upcoming August and September matches through a lottery system. However, the waiting list for this lottery has an astounding 3 million names on it. Last season, the total number of fans who attended games was over a million.

On Friday, fans could only access the Anaheim game by purchasing through the resale market. Just before the opening pitch, the lowest available price (inclusive of fees and taxes) for a pair of Bananas tickets on StubHub was $209.52, while it cost just $171.72 to secure a pair of tickets to the Yankees-Dodgers series opener at Dodger Stadium that same evening.

Instead of relying on players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, it’s the Savannah team that takes on several rivals: the Texas Tailgaters, the Firefighters, the Party Animals, and the Visitors in a game called Banana Ball.

In addition to Ohtani and Judge consistently hitting multiple home runs, only the Bananas offer baby races, a dancing umpire, and acrobatic outfield catches in the form of backflips. Moreover, their games are guaranteed to last no more than two hours, which is something even MLB’s pitch clock can’t promise.

Dodgers

In the heart of every film enthusiast, there’s a thrill that matches the one I felt when Aaron Judge dropped the ball during the Yankees’ defeat in Game 5 of the World Series against the formidable Dodgers. And here’s an exciting twist: that very ball has now raised $43,510 for charity at a recent auction!

As a devoted cinephile might express, “I’ve been swept off my feet by the Savannah Bananas! They’ve captivated the sports world with their electrifying mix of baseball and entertainment that resonates with viewers across generations.” – Mike Perman, senior vice president of CW Sports.

We’re excited about collaborating with them for their first appearance on broadcast TV. We can hardly wait to share the unexpected moments with our viewers, as the charged environment in Philadelphia seems set to make this event truly electrifying!

In the same press statement, Cole, owner of Banana Ball, stated, “Banana Ball on The CW is an obvious choice. Given their recent focus on sports, we sensed a promising collaboration. As our fast-paced and exciting game unfolds, we eagerly anticipate gaining new fans alongside them in the upcoming years.

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2025-06-03 23:01

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