Power of potassium: Thousands fill Franklin stadium for Savannah Bananas' first-ever visit to Brew City

 

FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For the first time ever, the famous Savannah Bananas are in Milwaukee and taking over a Franklin stadium as part of their 2023 World Tour. 

The Georgia-based team shot to fame several years ago, after their videos of crazy antics went viral on social media, leading to millions of adoring fans and followers.

On Friday, thousands packed inside of the Rock Sports Complex for the organization's Brew City debut, to watch the team take on the Party Animals and some members of the Milwaukee Milkmen.

The game marked the first of three in town, showcasing what's now known as "banana ball."

"So pumped, today is my birthday!" said Jeff Evans of Franklin. "I can't go wrong. What a day to celebrate it with my family and my brother here."

Evans, joined by his 11-year-old stepson, Adam Moeloer, had both decided to wear banana hats in support of the team.

"This game's gonna be bananas!" Moeloer told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White.

But what exactly *is* banana ball?

According to the team's owner, Jesse Cole, it's baseball reimagined. 

“I realized watching a baseball game to many it’s too long, too slow, and too boring so we said how do we make it nonstop entertainment, nonstop fun, and eliminate all the boring parts." Cole explained. 

Every single game is different, as the team does between 10 to 15 new performances, entrances, songs, etc. each time they perform.

There are players walking on stilts, using flaming bats, doing gymnastics tricks on the field, and wearing kilts -- not to mention, the numerous dances and random breakouts through the two-hour games. 

Not to mention, their beloved "man-nanas" who are better known as the Dad Bod Cheerleading Squad.

"We don't want anybody to leave the game unhappy," said Marty Jones, one of just three on the squad. "We are a circus, and in the middle of it, a baseball game breaks out."

Jones, who was decked out head to toe in bright yellow man-nana gear, donned a construction hat and glasses proudly.

“I didn’t want to have a big tool belt so kind of jokingly, again sarcastically, my wife said why don’t you be a banana inspector?" Jones recalled. "And I said, okay.”

The Bananas first played in 2018 before taking to the road in 2021.

Since then, their fan base has skyrocketed, marking the power of potassium.

"We only sold two tickets in our first three months, my wife and I had to sell our house, empty all of our savings' accounts, we were sleeping on an air bed," Cole said. "So, to now have a waitlist that’s approaching one million and sold out every single game since our first year, you could never imagine this."

The Bananas will play again in Franklin on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Franklin Field at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

All of the tickets to the tour are sold out, just another reminder of how the entertainment ap-peels to all ages.

For more information, click here.