Savannah Bananas. Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times
While we may not have a major league team, Scottsdale is synonymous with baseball come springtime. But now Scottsdale baseball fans have something new, wild, and wacky to get excited about in 2026: Banana Ball is coming to town. Well, sort of.
For those unfamiliar, Banana Ball is the brainchild of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball entertainment phenomenon that’s been taking the country by storm. This isn’t your grandfather’s baseballit’; s a wacky, fast-paced style of play featuring creative rules that put fans inside the action. Players stop mid-game for dance breaks and perform trick moves designed to get crowds on their feet. Think Harlem Globetrotters meet America’s pastime, baseball meets the TikTok generation.
The Bananas have become so popular that founder Jesse Cole drew 2.2 million fans this year and expects that number to grow to 3.3 million in 2026. That explosive growth has led to the creation of the Banana Ball Championship League, expanding the concept beyond just one team.
Here’s the good news for Scottsdale: two teams from this new league—The Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters—will square off at Salt River Fields on March 28-29. It’s an exciting opportunity to experience this fresh take on baseball entertainment right in our backyard.
The not-so-great news? The Savannah Bananas themselves won’t be stopping in the Valley of the Sun. While getting any Banana Ball action is certainly a win, it’s a bit like getting the opening band when you really wanted the headliner. The Bananas are the original, the team that started this whole movement, and their absence from Scottsdale feels like a missed opportunity.
Still, this is a positive development for Scottsdale’s sports scene. With tickets available through a lottery system open until October 31, local fans should jump on this chance to see what all the buzz is about…even if the main attraction is playing elsewhere.