Each year, the Savannah Bananas promise to bring Banana Ball to even more fans than they did the year before.
The 2025 Banana Ball World Tour is no different.
Not only will the game of Banana Ball be played in front of over two million fans, doubling the total in 2024, but it will also be played on some of the biggest stages in the country.
In 2025, Banana Ball will be played in its first ever college football venue: Clemson Memorial Stadium.
That’s right, folks. In 2025, more than 81,000 fans will pour into the stands of Clemson’s Death Valley and bear witness to Banana Ball history.
“We are beyond excited to welcome the Bananas to the Valley,” said Director of Athletics Graham Neff. “The Bananas’ innovation in the sports and entertainment space is world-class, and we are delighted to open our doors to fans from all over as part of the World Tour.”
Playing in football stadiums will be their biggest challenge yet, but the Savannah Bananas are no stranger to learning curves. After all, without risk, there’s no reward.
“Anytime you do something you’ve never done before, it is certainly a challenge,” team owner Jesse Cole said. “We’ve been challenged every step of the way, so we look for the opportunities. Now, with 81,000 fans, that’s how to create the most electric atmosphere possible, and so we’re going to look to that, and try to emulate what a football atmosphere is and bring it to Banana Ball.”
The electric atmosphere that usually accompanies a Banana Ball game will be amplified tenfold, as more fans in a bigger venue will allow the opportunity for even grander performances. This is something that Cole is especially excited for when thinking about the experience of the fan.
“I think it’s going to be louder, and more action-packed,” Cole said. “I think there’s going to be more energy in the stadium than people have ever seen.”
Throughout the years, Clemson Memorial Stadium has evolved in a way that maximizes the entirety of the fan experience, a principle that the program and Savannah Bananas have in common.
“With a new video board that’s 125 feet wide, new sound systems, and updates in all areas of the stadium, people will get a feel for walking through a place that’s not only historic from a college football standpoint, but also one that has high quality and world class events,” Jeff Kallin, Clemson’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications, said.
On its own, the stadium has seen its fair share of excitement. From the Rolling Stones to Elton John to George Strait, college football greatness isn’t the only thing it’s housed throughout the years. This will be, however, the first time the walls of Death Valley house Banana Ball.
“To bring in a unique event like the Bananas,” Kallin said, “I think just shows the versatility of the venue. It can do a lot of different things, even though people might think of it as just a football field.”
In order to reach more fans and play on these massive stages, Banana Ball has to be able to adapt. Luckily for fans, it has, and continues to do so. This adaptability is arguably one of the strongest qualities of the sport.
“This is a great test run for Banana Ball, and an opportunity to expand in the future,” Cole said. “We want to be able to take care of more fans and this is a really cool way to do it, a way that most sports can’t. With Banana Ball, we can always change the dimensions and get creative to make it more fun for fans.”
Now, you’re probably asking: How will it be done? How will Clemson Memorial Stadium be converted into a place that is suitable for a Banana Ball game?
Well, because a Banana Ball game isn’t complete without a diamond, Death Valley’s field will be completely transformed. Instead of hash marks, there’ll be bases and foul lines.
Netting Pros, a company that provides custom netting design and installation for various events and facilities, is also working closely with the organization to ensure that this Banana Ball game will be just as exciting–and safe– to watch as it is to play in.
“We’re working with Netting Pros to put in a fifty-foot fence to act as a wall,” Cole explained. “It will be bigger than the Green Monster and it will be played like a wall, so if a ball goes off the net, we will play it live. It’s a football stadium environment that we are packing in a baseball field in, all for an electric atmosphere.”
That electricity is sure to be present. The historical dominance of Clemson football and the culture surrounding it paired with the ever-evolving and exciting game of Banana Ball is sure to create a never-before-seen event.
“The atmosphere in Death Valley is as good as it gets,” Neff said, “and we are eager to help create an unforgettable experience when the Bananas come to town in April 2025.”
We’re ready for it, fans. Are you?
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