ESPN and Disney+ bet big on the circus that’s putting butts in seats while MLB stadiums sit half-empty
The sports world just went bananas – literally. In a move that’s sending shockwaves through traditional baseball, ESPN announced Monday that it will team up with the Savannah Bananas to broadcast 10 games later this year, bringing the barnstorming baseball team and its on-field antics to a national television audience.
This isn’t just any TV deal. We’re talking about games simultaneously streaming on ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, AND ESPN+ – the kind of multi-platform coverage usually reserved for World Series games and playoff matchups.
Why This Changes Everything
While MLB teams struggle with declining attendance and complaints about slow, boring games, the Savannah Bananas are doing something unthinkable: they outdrew all Minor League Baseball teams and even the Oakland A’s in 2024, drawing over one million fans.
Think about that for a second. A team that doesn’t even play “real” baseball just out-performed an actual MLB franchise.
“We are going big — the biggest we’ve ever gone, with ESPN,” Cole shouted in the video, adding that these would be “the biggest games of the year” for the Bananas.
What Makes Banana Ball So Addictive?
Forget everything you know about baseball. Banana Ball is what happens when you take America’s pastime and inject it with Red Bull, TikTok energy, and Cirque du Soleil choreography:
- No walks allowed – swing or go home
- Fans catch foul balls = automatic outs – suddenly everyone’s a defensive player
- Players can steal first base – because why not flip the script entirely?
- 2-hour time limit – no more 4-hour slogs
- Choreographed dance routines between innings – entertainment that actually entertains
If games are tied at the end of the two-hour limit, the game will enter a three-round “Showdown Tiebreaker” to determine a winner.
The Venues Will Blow Your Mind
This isn’t your local community college diamond. The Bananas are taking their show to the biggest stages in sports:
NFL Stadiums:
- Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans) – 70,000 capacity
- Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers) – 75,000 capacity
Historic MLB Parks:
- Fenway Park (Boston)
- Camden Yards (Baltimore)
- Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
- Nationals Park (Washington D.C.)
College Football Madness:
- Clemson’s Memorial Stadium drew 81,000 people at their April 26, 2025 game – the largest crowd in Bananas history
The Numbers That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
The Savannah Bananas announced they would play games in 40 cities in 2025, including three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. For context, that’s more cities than most rock bands hit on world tours.
In 2025, the MLB ballpark visits will be over two nights, doubling the number of available tickets. Translation: they’re so popular they literally can’t fit everyone who wants to see them.
Why ESPN Bet Big on Banana Ball
“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,” said Brent Colborne, ESPN Vice President of Programming & Content Strategy.
ESPN isn’t stupid. They see the writing on the wall:
- Traditional baseball ratings are declining
- Younger audiences are abandoning the sport
- The Bananas are packing stadiums with millennials and Gen Z
- Social media engagement is through the roof
The Franchise That Thinks Different
Owner Jesse Cole doesn’t just own a baseball team – he’s created a movement. Cole only wears Yellow tuxedoes in public. “If your owner is dressing up in a Yellow tuxedo, I think that gives permission to everyone else to not take everything so seriously,” Cole said.
This isn’t about disrespecting baseball – it’s about saving it. While MLB argues about pitch clocks and rule changes, the Bananas simply asked: “What if baseball was actually fun?”
What’s Next: The Championship Dream
Here’s the kicker: Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole announced that in 2026, there will be the first-ever Banana Ball Championship League with six Banana ball teams playing for a title.
We’re potentially watching the birth of a new professional sport in real-time.
The Bottom Line
While traditional baseball wrings its hands about declining attendance and aging demographics, the Savannah Bananas just signed a deal that puts them on the same platforms as the World Series.
They’re not just playing a different game – they’re playing by different rules entirely. And based on the crowds, the TV deals, and the pure infectious joy they bring to stadiums, maybe it’s time we all started paying attention.
The revolution won’t be televised – oh wait, it will be. On ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. Every Friday and Saturday night from April to August.
Ready to go bananas? The ticket lottery is open until November 1st at bananaball.com/tickets.
Because in a world where everything feels serious, sometimes you need a team that reminds you sports are supposed to be fun.
