Banana Ball’s Party Animals and Firefighters will play in a three-game series in Salt Lake City this August, marking the league’s first playoff games in Utah since its 2024 visit.
The series will be held at The Ballpark at America First Square, home of the Salt Lake Bees.
“We are thrilled to host the Party Animals and Firefighters,” said Ty Wardle, general manager of the Bees. “It will be a fun and unforgettable weekend of baseball and entertainment for fans of all ages. We can’t wait to showcase the excitement of these teams and create another memorable experience at our new ballpark.”
What’s Banana Ball?
Banana Ball is the modern reimagining of baseball. This fast-paced version emphasizes entertainment and excitement. On top of the game’s penchant for trick plays, synchronized dances and stunts like walking on stilts, there are twelve unique rules to keep it quick and engaging for audiences:
- Instead of runs being worth points, each inning is worth one point.
- Banana Ball has a set two-hour time limit.
- Batters can’t step out of the batter’s box and if they do they’re given a strike.
- Batters can’t bunt the ball.
- Batters can try to steal first base at any time.
- Walking to first base is replaced by ball-four sprints.
- No one besides the pitcher can visit the mound.
- If a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out.
- If the two-hour time limit hits and the game is at a tie, a showdown tiebreaker begins.
- Teams can challenge calls made by umpires.
- Once per game, a team can select any hitter it wants to go up to bat.
- An equalizer point may be awarded to the visiting team for doing more trick plays than the home team before the ninth inning.
The Banana Ball League began in 2018 when the Savannah Bananas played an exhibition game against Lander University. The league was officially formed in 2023 under commissioner Jesse Cole.
The Teams
The Party Animals and Firefighters are two of Banana Ball’s most recognizable teams, known for blending competition, trick plays, and fan interaction.
The Party Animals debuted in 2020 as the original rivals for the Savannah Bananas team. They can be seen on the field wearing black or pink uniforms.
The Firefighters debuted in 2023 as part of the 2024 season launch night. Their game day uniforms are firefighter or fire themed, including firefighter helmets.
Tickets
Registration for the 2026 ticket lottery has officially closed, though fans can still join their Banana Ball Ticket Interest List for future tour dates.
Tickets for this season’s Salt Lake City games can be found through third-party sellers but the league warns that the tickets could be significantly more expensive or potentially a scam.
Author: Jacob Merrill
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Editor: Payson Davis
