The CW Network will expand its relationship with one of baseball’s most unconventional attractions next season, announcing plans to air six Savannah Bananas games as part of its 2026 sports lineup.
After bringing Banana Ball to broadcast television for the first time last year, The CW will serve as the exclusive broadcast home for six games featuring the Savannah Bananas during the upcoming season.
The first telecast will take place Sunday, May 10, when the Bananas face the Party Animals at Truist Park in Atlanta from 2:30–5 p.m. ET.
Beyond the Atlanta showcase, The CW plans to televise additional Banana Ball matchups from several other markets across the country. Stops on the broadcast schedule include Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville and Savannah, where the Bananas continue to draw capacity crowds at historic Grayson Stadium.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Savannah Bananas and bring the hottest ticket in sports directly into living rooms across the country,” said Mike Perman, senior vice president of sports for The CW Network. “The dynamic brand of family-friendly entertainment mixed with impressive athleticism makes Banana Ball the perfect fit within our CW Sports portfolio.”
The Bananas have built a massive following through a presentation that blends baseball with theatrics, humor and viral moments designed for both stadium crowds and social media audiences. While the game still revolves around baseball fundamentals, the Banana Ball format emphasizes speed and entertainment through unique rules, choreographed celebrations and constant fan interaction.
Jesse Cole, the founder and CEO of the Savannah Bananas, said the organization views the expanded broadcast partnership as another step toward introducing Banana Ball to a wider national audience.
“We loved bringing Banana Ball to fans on The CW in 2025,” Cole said. “We can’t wait to grow our relationship by teaming up on some of our biggest shows in 2026 and delivering the ‘Greatest Show in Sports’ to millions of fans across the country.”
Since launching in 2016, the Bananas have sold out every game played at their home venue, Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia. The team’s presence on social media has also fueled rapid growth, particularly on TikTok, where the franchise has amassed more than 11 million followers — a total that surpasses every team in Major League Baseball and even exceeds the followings of franchises across the NFL, NBA and NHL.
The broader Banana Ball universe will also expand in 2026. The Banana Ball Championship League recently added two new clubs — the Loco Beach Coconuts and the Indianapolis Clowns — joining the Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters.
As a result, the touring baseball entertainment brand plans an aggressive national schedule, visiting 75 stadiums across 45 states during the 2026 season while continuing to blend sports, spectacle and social media savvy into one of the fastest-growing properties in the sports landscape.
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