Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- Banana Ball Championship League expands with two new teams, increasing competition and a season running April through September.
- Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns join, reviving the Clowns’ legacy and entertainment-focused baseball tradition.
- 2026 tour growth: games in 75 stadiums across 45 states, including MLB parks and nine college/football stadiums.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Savannah Bananas hosted their 2026 Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, revealing where they will be headed next year and two new teams they will face.
The two new teams announced will create the Banana Ball Championship League, increasing the league’s competitiveness. All six teams will compete throughout the season from April to September, with the top three making the playoffs.
The first of the two new teams announced was the Loco Beach Coconuts. The second team announced was the Indianapolis Clowns, paying homage to the former Negro Leagues baseball team that first merged entertainment with baseball.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick was welcomed on stage in Savannah to make the announcement. The rebirth of the Clowns, now in Banana Ball, will aim to keep the legacy of the former team alive.
In 2025, Banana Ball visited 40 cities across 25 states and welcomed over two million fans along the way. In 2026, the sport will be played in 75 stadiums across 45 states.
Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum told WSAV that he hopes to see three million fans on the team’s next tour.
Among the many stops revealed, the Bananas announced in April, Grayson Stadium will host the first Banana Ball Open Tournament, where the winner will earn an automatic playoff spot in the Banana Ball Championship League.
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.
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