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The Savannah Bananas held their 2026 Banana Ball City Selection Show in Savannah, GA, on Thursday, where they unveiled their next year’s destinations and introduced two new teams to the competition.
These additions will form the Banana Ball Championship League, heightening the league’s level of competition. The six teams will partake throughout the season, running from April to September, with the top three teams advancing to the playoffs.
The first newly introduced team is the Loco Beach Coconuts, followed by the Indianapolis Clowns. The Clowns pay tribute to the historic Negro Leagues team known for blending baseball with entertainment.
Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, took the stage in Savannah to share the news. The Clowns’ introduction to Banana Ball aims to honor the original team’s legacy.
During 2025, Banana Ball toured 40 cities across 25 states, attracting over two million fans. In 2026, the event will expand, featuring games in 75 stadiums across 45 states.
Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum told that he hopes to see three million fans on the team’s next tour.
Among the announced stops, Grayson Stadium will host the inaugural Banana Ball Open Tournament in April, providing the champion with an automatic slot in the Banana Ball Championship League playoffs.
Of the 14 MLB ballparks Banana Ball will visit, Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is one of the stops. The Bananas will play a three-game series at Truist Park May 8-10.
The Bananas also announced a return to Yankee Stadium in New York.
Baseball stadiums will be the typical venue for Banana Ball, but the Bananas announced they will play in nine football stadiums in 2026.
In February, the Bananas will play the Texas Tailgaters in Doak Campbell Stadium on Florida State University’s campus. In March, the Bananas will head to New Orleans to compete against the Party Animals in Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints.
In April, the Bananas will play the Tailgaters at Kenan Stadium on the University of North Carolina’s campus.
From there, the Bananas will play at Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee and Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in May.
June will feature two more college football stadiums, beginning with Memorial Stadium at the University of Nebraska and Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon.
The last two football stadiums the Bananas visit in 2026 will be Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa in July and then Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, in August.
Preseason games of Banana Ball in 2026 will begin in February.
The 2025 Banana Ball Tour Championship Final will be played in Grayson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, as the Firefighters and Party Animals will compete for the first-ever Banana Ball title.