Elevate Classics: Jesse Cole on the Amazing Savannah Bananas
May 16, 2023
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Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and Savannah Bananas, discusses building the Bananas from bankruptcy to a top entertainment brand. They talk about the unique fan experience, creating a product customers can take advantage of, the exciting format of banana ball, testing new ideas, promotions like baby races, and the power of fun and belonging.
Eliminating friction points and constantly seeking ways to improve the fan experience is crucial for building a successful entertainment brand.
Being different and unique, inspired by successful entertainers, can help create a memorable customer experience and passionate fan base.
Learning from failures, having fun, and prioritizing the show at the ballpark can lead to greater success on and off the field.
Deep dives
Creating a Unique Fan Experience
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shares his experience of creating a unique fan experience with his baseball team, the Savannah Bananas. He emphasizes the importance of eliminating friction points in the fan experience and constantly seeking ways to improve. Cole draws inspiration from Walt Disney and focuses on being dramatically different and innovative. The Savannah Bananas have introduced entertaining elements like breakdancing, a senior dance team, and banana nannas, a male cheerleading team. They have also developed a faster version of the game called banana ball. The team's commitment to entertaining fans has resulted in increased attendance, a large social media following, and a successful merchandise business.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Creativity
Jesse Cole shares his journey of turning around struggling baseball teams and the challenges he faced. As the general manager of the Gastonia Grizzlies, he faced significant financial struggles but focused on being innovative and eliminating friction points for fans. He introduced unique and entertaining promotions, although some were unsuccessful. Cole emphasizes the importance of being willing to take risks and learn from failures. He also discusses the challenges of getting players to buy into the unconventional approach, but ultimately the success of the team and the positive fan response helped in gaining their support.
Expanding the Brand and Future Plans
Jesse Cole discusses the success and growth of the Savannah Bananas brand. With a strong social media presence and a large following, the team has been able to sell out every game and expand its merchandise sales globally. Cole shares the innovations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including banana ball, a fast-paced and entertaining version of baseball. The team's success with this game has caught the attention of major league teams and has potential for further expansion. Cole also highlights the team's continued focus on being fans first and constantly seeking ways to eliminate friction and create a memorable experience for fans.
Lessons Learned and Building Raving Fans
Jesse Cole shares key lessons learned from his journey of building a successful baseball team and brand. He emphasizes the importance of being different and unique, taking inspiration from successful entertainers like Walt Disney and P.T. Barnum. Cole highlights the five E's of creating raving fans: eliminate friction, entertain always, experiment constantly, engage deeply, and empower action. He encourages businesses to put themselves in their customers' shoes, identify and eliminate friction points, and focus on providing value. Cole's approach to building a passionate fan base serves as a valuable lesson for any organization looking to create a memorable customer experience.
Creating the Greatest Show in Sports
The podcast episode features an interview with Jesse Cole, the owner of the baseball team, the Bananas. The main idea highlighted in this segment is creating the greatest show in sports. Cole emphasizes the importance of obsessing over creating the best experience for fans by constantly innovating and trying new things. He draws inspiration from Mr. Beast, a famous YouTuber known for his philanthropic acts, and believes that by focusing on creating an outstanding show every night, everything else, including expansion to major league stadiums and even theme parks, will naturally follow.
Lessons from Failures and Importance of Fun
Another key idea discussed in the podcast is the importance of learning from failures and having fun. Cole reflects on the mistakes the Bananas have made in the past, such as failed events and unsuccessful sponsorships. However, he emphasizes the value of moving on from mistakes and focusing on their unique skill set. The Bananas prioritize their show at the ballpark, constantly striving to create new and exciting experiences. Cole believes that having fun and maintaining a positive, energetic atmosphere not only brings joy to fans and players but also leads to greater success on and off the field.
Jesse Cole lives life by being different. He is the founder of Fans First Entertainment, which owns and operates the baseball team the Savannah Bananas. The Bananas have welcomed more than 1 million fans to their ballpark and have been featured on MSNBC, CBS Sunday Morning, HBO and ESPN. Jesse is an in-demand speaker and bestselling author of two books, Find Your Yellow Tux and his newest Fans First.
Jesse joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to discuss how he and his wife built the Savannah Bananas from a bankrupt organization to a leading entertainment brand, and much more.
