I didn’t expect to walk out of a Savannah Bananas game thinking about customer experience models, brand architecture, or organizational culture. But that’s exactly where my mind went after being completely awe-struck by the experience. What happened on the field—and all around it—was a lesson in how to build something people want to be part of, talk about, and keep coming back to.
Savannah Bananas run business with clarity, intention, and a level of operational discipline that many organizations—sports or otherwise—could benefit from studying.
A Customer Journey with No Loose Ends
My experience began like many others: through social media. My Instagram feed was flooded with videos of players dancing between pitches, YouTube introduced me to the Banana Nanas, a group of 65-and-up line dancers hyping up the crowd, and TikTok was full of trick shots that looked like something straight out of a Dude Perfect video. It was chaotic, it was fast, and I couldn’t stop watching.
In business, we talk a lot about reducing friction. The Bananas took it a step further and built an experience where friction or confusion never enters the picture. When I entered the event’s ticket lottery, the quality of the experience continued to build. Communications were timely and helpful. There were no sales gimmicks. Instead, I received clear answers to every question imaginable—what to bring, where to park, what to expect. The entire process felt thoughtful and deliberate.
Culture That Shows Up in the Details
A few weeks ago, I was in a conversation about what unites high-performing organizations. One theme that stood out was how companies that consistently thrive have a mission that shapes behavior, not just messaging on their website.
The Savannah Bananas are a perfect example.
Their team operates under the name Fans First Entertainment. That principle isn’t theoretical boilerplate language—it’s visible in the way they operate. One of the clearest examples of that mindset is their starting catcher, Bill LeRoy.
When I arrived at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, Bill was already working the crowd. Even though catching is one of the most demanding positions in baseball, and most of them spend time before a game conserving energy or going through their routines, Bill moved through the stadium with a microphone in hand, dancing, tossing bananas from the upper deck into a teammate’s pants on the field, signing autographs, and creating energy before the first pitch.
Once the game began, the energy didn’t fade. Between innings and even between pitches, Bill stayed engaged with fans behind the plate and helped keep the momentum going. He balanced the responsibilities of a high-level athlete with the performance expectations of a show host and made it look seamless.
High-performing cultures don’t happen by chance. They are shaped by people like Bill and sustained by systems that recognize, reward, and replicate that kind of impact.
A Model That Meets People Where They Are
There were home runs, standout defensive plays, and a real score at the end. But the lasting impact of the event came from the experience surrounding the game, not the box score.
Another example of this was when a six-year-old girl led a full stadium in a fan warm up and had 81,000 people following her lead. In addition, Princess Potassia delivered musical performances, players filmed TikToks mid-game, and the Bananas’ rival team, the Party Animals, created nonstop comedic chaos from start to finish.
The variety was intentional. Whether you were a die-hard baseball fan, a parent with kids, a TikTok doom scroller, or someone just curious about the hype, there was something for everyone. The event was designed to welcome people with different interests and backgrounds while unifying them.
Delivering that inclusive experience requires systems, a willingness to try new or unorthodox things, and the ability to flex without losing focus.
Make The Mission Obvious – Then Reinforce It
If you’re leading a company, building a brand, or working to strengthen relationships with your audience, there is real value in looking at what the Bananas have created. From the moment a fan encounters their content, buys a ticket, or enters the ballpark, the message is unmistakable: This experience is built for you.
The most effective organizations bring their mission to life through action. They treat every interaction, no matter how small, as a chance to reinforce who they are and what they believe. They create systems that recognize and support the people who carry the culture forward. And they design experiences that make space for a wide range of people to feel connected.
The Savannah Bananas may play a different version of baseball, but the business lessons from Bananaland are universal. For anyone building something worth remembering, there’s wisdom in the chaos.
