Inspiration can come from anywhere, and if you’re looking for some energy around creating a guest experience you should check out The Savanah Bananas. They are as non-traditional of a baseball team as you can find — the Harlem Globetrotters of the diamond — but their crazy formula is working — with a sell-out for every game and a 500,000-person waitlist!
The Bananas are a collegiate summer league team in Georgia with the goal of making baseball fun. They provide as much entertainment as athleticism with stunts like players on stilts, players wearing kilts, hitting with a bat on fire, choreographed dancing by players on the field, and senior citizen cheerleaders. Oh, and they win the league championship, too.
The owners are trying to “create the best fan experience in the world” so have taken steps to eliminate all the annoying aspects that usually come with attending a game. There are no ticket fees, service fees, or convenience fees. There is no advertising in the stadium. The ticket price even includes food and drinks!
Replicating the full Bananas experience may not work for everyone, but I’m sure there are elements that you could adapt. Check out some of their online videos and find ways to go bananas with an aspect of your organization.
See Savannah Bananas or Jesse Cole (owner) on LinkedIn
or Books by Jesse Cole: Fans First, Find Your Yellow Tux, or Banana Ball
