The Savannah Bananas are possibly the world’s most popular “baseball” team. They play a version of baseball called “Banana Ball,” which has very different rules than traditional baseball and focuses on entertainment and fun.
Banana Ball is coming to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2026. The Savannah Bananas will be playing the Tailgaters at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill on April 11 and 12, 2026.
In June of 2025, more than 150,000 fans watched two sold out games at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, between the Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals. Kenan Stadium has a smaller capacity than Bank of America Stadium, so you can expect extremely high demand for tickets.
Banana Ball Rules and Traditions
The rules and traditions of Banana Ball differ from regular baseball.
Just a few:
- The team that scores the most runs in an inning gets one point, and the game is won by points, not runs.
- “Trick plays” and acrobatics are abundant. An outfielder might do a flip as he catches (or doesn’t catch) a ball.
- One time in a game, the team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot.
- The game features elaborate dances, both by players and umpires.
- If a foul ball is caught by a fan it counts as an out.
- The game time can not exceed two hours.
- Once in the batter’s box the batter can not step out.
- Instead of walks, when a pitchers throws four balls, the batter advances as far around the bases as he can until the ball is thrown to every fielder.
- There is a ton of crowd participation, with goofy races and contests before the game and between innings.
Banana Ball Teams
The Banana Ball league is growing. These are the teams in 2026:
- Savannah Bananas
- Party Animals
- Firefighters
- Texas Tailgaters
- Loco Beach Coconuts
- Indianapolis Clowns
- Visitors
Getting Tickets to Banana Ball
The game is so entertaining that tickets are in high demand. The Bananas sell out all their games.
To have a chance to buy tickets, which are $35, you need to join the lottery list. The lottery closes October 31, 2025. It doesn’t matter when you enter the lottery, as long as you enter by October 31. When you enter the lottery you’ll select which city you’re interested in.
A drawing will take place about two months before the game. If you’re drawn you’ll have a chance to purchase tickets. You’ll have a very limited window of time to buy tickets, and you still might not get any.
Be very wary of any tickets you see on third party sites. They’ll most likely be fake.
Good luck!
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