Behind The Wall How The Savannah Bananas Became the Most Entertaining Show in America (Jesse Cole interview)
Nov 24, 2025
Jesse Cole, founder of the Savannah Bananas, shares his journey of transforming a struggling baseball team into a fan-favorite phenomenon. He explains how he created Banana Ball to offer a faster, more engaging experience for audiences. Jesse discusses the importance of a fans-first approach and the art of crafting unforgettable moments. He reveals lessons from failures, the significance of belief in dreams, and insights on team culture. With ambitions for global reach, Jesse's philosophy highlights that joy and creativity can redefine sports entertainment.
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Design For The Fan First
- Put yourself in the fan's shoes and eliminate friction in every part of the experience.
- Iterate aggressively: test new ideas live, watch fan reactions, and keep plussing the show.
From Air Mattress To National Phenomenon
- Nine years ago Jesse and Emily slept on an air mattress while building the Bananas.
- They sold two tickets early on and later grew into a national phenomenon through iteration.
Make Remarkability Your Marketing
- Create something so remarkable that customers market it for you.
- Constantly invent new moments so your show never becomes a fad.
