Notre Dame welcomes Banana Ball — and a story of perseverance

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(OSV News) — Notre Dame Stadium has housed generations of football memories. Next summer, someone catching a foul ball in the stands could help make a different kind of history.

The Savannah Bananas are coming to Notre Dame in June 2027, bringing their unconventional brand of baseball to a university where tradition rarely needs an introduction. The visit will include games at Frank Eck Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium, with the latter hosting its first-ever baseball game.

“We have been talking with Jesse Cole, the visionary for Banana Ball, for a while now,” said Lee Sicinski, executive director of University Events at Notre Dame. “We expect a full house of 80,000 Banana Ball fans in June at Notre Dame Stadium.”

Rotating format will be a first for the Savannah Bananas

For a campus accustomed to hosting major sporting events, the attraction offers something distinctly different: dancing players, singing, unusual rules and spectators who become part of the action.

“Hosting the first-ever baseball game inside Notre Dame Stadium — alongside dynamic action at Frank Eck Stadium — is a historic moment for our campus,” said Mike Seamon, vice president for University Operations, Events and Safety. “We can’t wait to open our gates to Banana Nation for an unforgettable experience.” 

The festivities begin with a game on June 24 at Frank Eck Stadium, with action moving to Notre Dame Stadium on June 26.

Notre Dame confirmed to OSV News that two baseball diamonds will be constructed in opposite corners of the football stadium, with teams rotating between them every inning. The format, called “Banana Ball 360,” will be a first for the Savannah Bananas.

A story of of sacrifice and perseverance

Behind the anticipated celebration is a story of sacrifice and perseverance — qualities that resonate with the Catholic tradition.

Before the Bananas filled stadiums, owners Jesse and Emily Cole struggled to sell tickets after founding the organization in 2016. Facing financial difficulties, the couple sold their home and slept on an air mattress while trying to keep their dream. Their persistence helped transform a struggling venture into a traveling sensation. Baseball remained at its heart, but entertainment became part of nearly every moment.

In Banana Ball, bunting is prohibited, walks become sprints and a spectator catching a foul ball records an out. Fans have reason to bring both their gloves and their attention.

For Notre Dame, welcoming that creativity also requires careful preparation of a stadium best known for football.

“Our priority is to protect the playing surface first and foremost,” said Sicinski.

Fortunately, the stadium has undergone major transformations before. Sicinski pointed to its experience hosting the NHL Winter Classic, international soccer matches and concerts.

“We know how to transform it to fit the event, while keeping its integrity,” said Sicinski.

The visit brings together two organizations with very different histories: a Catholic university whose identity is rooted in tradition and a baseball phenomenon that found success by challenging convention.

For a Catholic audience, the Coles’ journey offers a familiar lesson in fortitude. Their willingness to sacrifice, endure uncertainty, and persevere reflects the importance of remaining committed to a purpose even when the outcome is far from assured.

That perseverance will bring them to one of college sports’ most storied settings.

Years ago, Jesse and Emily Cole sold their home to keep a baseball dream alive.

Next June, they will arrive at Notre Dame expecting a full house.

John Knebels writes for OSV News from suburban Philadelphia.