Savannah Bananas: Minute Maid Park to Become First MLB Ballpark for Traveling Show

The Savannah Bananas, a unique baseball team known for their entertaining antics, will play at Houston's Minute Maid Park in 2024. Tickets will be available through a lottery system.

The Savannah Bananas, a baseball team known for their entertaining antics on the field, are making their return to southeast Texas at a bigger venue than before. Houston's Minute Maid Park has been chosen as the first-ever MLB ballpark to host the Bananas' unique Banana Ball program. This announcement was made during the "2024 Banana Ball World Tour Draft" on Thursday, with the event scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Although tickets are not yet on sale, the Bananas have opened a ticket lottery page to handle the high demand for the event. This is in response to the 500,000-person waitlist for their sold-out nights at Sugar Land's Constellation Field earlier this year. The lottery sign-up is open until December 1, but joining the list does not guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place approximately two months before the event, and those selected will have the chance to purchase tickets.

The Bananas have gained attention for their unique approach to the sport since their launch in 2016. They not only play baseball but also provide entertainment, all while bending the rules of the game. They have created their own version of baseball called "Banana Ball," where the game lasts for two hours, tiebreakers are decided through one-on-one showdowns, and catching a foul ball results in an out, among other rule variations.

In addition to their on-field antics, the Bananas regularly compete against the Party Animals, a team similar to the Washington Generals of the Harlem Globetrotters. Both the Bananas and Party Animals rosters consist of professional independent players. In 2022, notable former MLB players such as Josh Reddick, Jake Peavy, Jonathan Papelbon, Jonny Gomes, Bill Lee, and Johnny Bench joined the tour.

Attending a Banana Ball game promises a unique experience, with players performing fully-choreographed country line dances to celebrate making the team and engaging in post-game interviews that offer a glimpse into their personalities. There's even a chance for attendees to be interviewed while players take ice baths. The Bananas bring a level of entertainment and excitement to the sport that is truly one-of-a-kind.

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