F’nAround Review: The Savannah Bananas at Wrigley Field
F’nAround Review: The Savannah Bananas at Wrigley Field
Baseball Finally Asked, “What If We Made This Fun?”
Confession time.
When I heard the Savannah Bananas were coming to Wrigley Field, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was walking into.
I’d heard they were described as the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, but there was a tiny voice in the back of my head whispering:
“Please don’t let this turn into the Maxi Golf League from Happy Gilmore 2.”
Thankfully…
It didn’t.
Not even close.
Instead, what I found was something that baseball has desperately needed for a long time: permission to stop taking itself so seriously.
Baseball… But With a Personality
The Savannah Bananas aren’t trying to replace Major League Baseball.
They’re creating an entirely different experience.
Banana Ball has its own rulebook, its own pace, and its own philosophy. The two-hour time limit keeps the action moving, there are no mound visits, and every inning feels like something is happening.
As someone who’s watched plenty of traditional baseball over the years, I’ll admit it was refreshing to never glance at my watch wondering if we’d only reached the fourth inning.
Families especially benefit from this format.
Kids don’t have to survive a three-and-a-half-hour marathon hoping something exciting eventually happens.
The exciting part is always about thirty seconds away.
The Entertainment Never Stops
Music.
Dancing.
Fan interaction.
Players climbing into the stands.
Constant crowd engagement.
Nearly every section of Wrigley felt like it became part of the show at one point or another.
And that’s probably what impressed me most.
It would’ve been easy to focus all the attention on the expensive seats behind home plate.
Instead, the Bananas made a genuine effort to involve fans throughout almost every level of the stadium.
It didn’t feel like they were performing at the audience.
It felt like they were performing with them.
That distinction matters.
You can tell this organization genuinely cares about creating memories, not simply selling tickets.
A Love Letter to Chicago
One thing I wasn’t expecting was just how much respect they showed the city they were visiting.
Instead of simply bringing the same show from stop to stop, they embraced Chicago’s baseball history.
Seeing Kerry Wood appear brought smiles from Cubs fans.
David Ross received a tremendous welcome.
Then came one of the biggest nostalgia moments of the afternoon.
Thomas Ian Nicholas walked out as Henry Rowengartner from Rookie of the Year.
And yes…
They recreated the iconic scene where Henry fires the baseball back to the catcher.
For anyone who grew up in the ’90s watching Cubs baseball and endlessly quoting that movie, it was an incredibly fun callback.
It wasn’t just fan service.
It showed they understood where they were playing and why Wrigley Field means something special to so many people.
Yes… They’re Actually Good at Baseball
One misconception people might have is assuming this is entirely scripted entertainment.
It isn’t.
While the presentation is built around comedy and showmanship, the competition is still very real.
The games aren’t fully scripted.
The outcomes aren’t predetermined.
Anyone can win.
That actually says a lot about the players.
Underneath all the dancing, celebrations, jokes, and entertainment are legitimately talented baseball players who have to perform while also putting on a live show.
That’s harder than it looks.
Imagine trying to play high-level baseball while simultaneously being part athlete, part comedian, part dancer, and part entertainer.
That’s a unique skill set.
The Biggest Winner? Families.
If you’re looking for a traditional baseball experience, go watch the Cubs.
If you’re looking for one of the most entertaining sporting events you can take your kids to…
Go see the Savannah Bananas.
This is the kind of event children will remember years later.
Not because they can recall the final score…
But because the players danced with the crowd.
Because music never stopped playing.
Because everyone laughed.
Because baseball suddenly felt approachable.
And because for two hours, everyone in the stadium seemed to be having the exact same amount of fun.
Final Thoughts
Walking into Wrigley, I wasn’t sure whether I’d be watching baseball or a comedy sketch.
What I got was something much better.
The Savannah Bananas have figured out something many professional sports organizations are still trying to learn:
People don’t just buy tickets to watch a game.
They buy tickets to have an experience.
The Bananas absolutely deliver one.
If you have kids, this is a must-see event.
If you’re nostalgic for baseball but want something fresh, it’s worth checking out.
And if you’re worried it’s all gimmicks with no substance…
Don’t be.
The baseball is real.
The talent is real.
The energy is real.
Most importantly…
The smiles around Wrigley were real.
F’nAround Rating: 🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌 (5/5 Bananas)
Would I go again?
Absolutely.
Just don’t blame me if your kids start asking why every baseball game doesn’t have dancing, music, and players interacting with the crowd.
Cubs Legends playing banana ball! #chicago #ball #baseball #sports #fun #legend #epic #nostalgia
https://youtube.com/shorts/W3gcMnZ969c?feature=share
Rookie of the year!
This cameo was amazing! #cubs #movie #nosatlgia #nostalgic #chicago #baseball #savannah #bananas
