Banana Ball 101
After following Jesse Cole โ the yellow-tux-wearing owner of the Savannah Bananas โ on LinkedIn and YouTube, I was hooked. His passion is infectious, his energy unstoppable, and his mantra simple but powerful: โWhen you have fun, you play better.โ
And fun is exactly what the Bananas deliver. From sold-out football stadiums to cozy minor league parks, their โFans Firstโ philosophy has transformed baseball into the must-see show of the year. You canโt even buy Bananas tickets right now; theyโre accepting applications for tickets via lottery for 2026.
The Bananas rewrote the rules of the game โ literally. Two-hour games, no bunting, no mound visits, no stepping out of the batterโs box, and my favorite twist: if a fan catches a foul ball, the batterโs out! Pair those rules with nonstop music, dancing, and crowd interaction, and youโve got baseball reimagined as pure joy.
Joining the Bunch
Curious about their customer-first magic, I decided to see it for myself first-hand and do a little something that engagement expert Amanda Lea Kaiser calls โengagement scoutingโ which is,
โโฆsimply put, keeping your eyes and ears open for engagement inspiration out in the world. Noticing anything that is super engaging, and then asking, โIs there a kernel of something here that I can adapt at my organization?โ
So I applied to work at an upcoming game. Their application? Short, simple, and fun. They even asked, โWhatโs one thing on your bucket list?โ (Howโs that for living your values?) Plus, they encouraged referrals right away โ because who wouldnโt want to work with friends?
The follow-up process was just as impressive. From the โWelcome to Bananalandโ email with videos and schedules to the GroupMe chat loaded with training tips and core values, every step reinforced their culture. By the time I got the text confirming I was hired, I practically had their values memorized.
Lesson: Make hiring simple, fun, and crystal clear. Infuse your culture into every touchpoint.
Game Day Antics
When I arrived at Wolff Stadium, the party had already started โ in the parking lot. Players were dancing, fans were smiling, and the energy was electric.
Inside, my crew leader (young, energetic, and knowledgeable) trained us on merch and POS systems. The product walkthrough was fast and clear, and the teamโs energy was contagious. I quickly realized: product knowledge + enthusiasm = sales gold.
Lesson: Know your products. Energy + expertise builds customer confidence.
Showtime
When gates opened, it was chaos โ in the best way. Fans of all ages poured in, singing, dancing, and laughing. Kids chased flying pizza dough from the โpizza guy,โ players emerged from the stands to high-five fans, and the crowd roared to Garth Brooks and Whitney Houston singalongs.
At the merch tent, my favorite item was a farting mascot plushie (yes, you had to test it at checkout). That kind of silliness wasnโt just fun โ it was memorable.
Lesson: Create micro-moments of delight. Itโs the small, unexpected touches that stick.
Making Work Fun
What struck me most was how the supervisors led. They werenโt hovering; they were right there with us โ smiling, answering questions, and keeping things moving. One even said it was the best job sheโd ever had.
Lesson: Managers who work with their teams, not just above them, create the best employee experiences.
Closing Time
Breaking down heavy tents at midnight wasnโt glamorous, but the teamwork made it fun. And while we were hauling boxes, players were still outside signing autographs and laughing with fans. That connection โ up close, personal, and authentic โ was the magic that carried the night.
Lesson: Accessibility matters. When fans (or customers) feel like family, loyalty skyrockets.
Final Pitch
The Savannah Bananas are proof that when you put people first โ whether fans, customers, or employees โ you create unforgettable experiences. Their formula isnโt complicated: keep it simple, make it fun, live your values, and go all in.
So hereโs the takeaway for us: keep pushing boundaries, keep creating joy, and always put customers first. Do that, and like the Bananas, you canโt lose.
Jen Troke is APROโs Vice President.
