‘Banana Ball’ brings big crowds to Kauffman Stadium
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - More than 80,000 fans are expected to pack Kauffman Stadium this weekend as the Savannah Bananas bring their viral version of baseball to Kansas City for the first time — and both nights are sold out.
Known for their high-energy, rules-breaking spin on America’s pastime, the Bananas’ “Banana Ball” style has taken the country by storm — and the response in Kansas City has been no different.
Fans arrived in droves Friday, eager to be part of the spectacle. Some came ready for the spotlight.
“If they’re doing a jumbotron that shows people, I bet I’ll get on it,” said Leighton Howarth of Lamar, Missouri.
Howarth was decked out with a banana helmet for the game.
The Bananas blend baseball with circus-like performance, complete with dancing players, fan participation, and “rules” that throw tradition out the window. That novelty is exactly what drew in 13-year-old Cole Contreras, who received tickets as a birthday gift.
“All the tricks and stuff, and like seeing, like, all the different rules, and seeing how different it is from actual baseball,” he said.
Contreras traveled from Tulsa, Oklahoma – it took his family 4 hours to get to the game.
Bananas fans traveled from all over to come to Friday’s sold-out game, telling KCTV 5 they ‘peeled’ out of towns hours away in Oklahoma, Minnesota, and more to be here.
One family from Nebraska was honored through Bananas Foster, the Savannah Banana’s nonprofit that highlights the foster care community.
“I think it’s awesome the Bananas are doing this,” said Ben Westerfield. “I think people see a foster family and understand what it is but not understand honestly how difficult it is day-to-day. The foster system drastically needs good foster families. If you have it in your heart, any desire at all, you should look into it.”
Banana Ball rewards fans who catch foul balls with outs, but not everyone is eager to play by that rule.
“If there’s a Bananas’ one, I’m gonna let it drop before I catch it,” joked Max Climer, who asked for Bananas tickets for Christmas.
With energy high and thousands of fans cheering, the Bananas’ debut at The K is delivering the kind of show Kansas City won’t soon forget.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
