BANANA BALL COMING TO WINNIPEG
WINNIPEG, MB., October 15, 2026 – Banana Ball will make a stop in Winnipeg as part of its first Canadian appearance in August 2027. The Winnipeg Goldeyes & Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced the historic visit Thursday in conjunction with Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, and Travel Manitoba.
The Party Animals and Texas Tailgaters will meet August 26 at Blue Cross Park and August 28 at Princess Auto Stadium.
The event will bring a distinctive blend of baseball, entertainment, and fan participation to Manitoba's capital, giving local fans an opportunity to experience Banana Ball in person while offering visitors another reason to make Winnipeg part of their summer travel plans.
Created by the Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole, Banana Ball is a fast-paced version of baseball that combines athletic competition with music, choreographed dances, trick plays, and comedy. The experience puts fans at the centre of the action, with entertainment woven throughout the game.
Its unconventional rules keep play moving and give spectators a role in the outcome. No new inning begins after two hours, bunting is prohibited, and a foul ball caught by a fan counts as an out. Instead of a traditional walk, ball four sends the batter sprinting around the bases while the defence races to relay the ball among its fielders. A points-based scoring system rewards teams for winning individual innings.
"Attracting Banana Ball for part of its first Canadian appearance is the culmination of three years of hard work by the Winnipeg Goldeyes and represents a significant achievement for Winnipeg and an exciting opportunity to showcase our city," said Goldeyes Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Regan Katz. "Winnipeg fans have an incredible passion for sports and entertainment, and Banana Ball offers an opportunity to celebrate that enthusiasm on an entirely new stage. We're excited to welcome visitors from across Manitoba, Canada, and the United States for an unforgettable experience that will bring new energy to our city and provide a meaningful boost to local businesses."
The confirmed games will showcase two of Winnipeg's premier sports venues, bringing Banana Ball to both the Goldeyes' downtown home at Blue Cross Park and the Blue Bombers' iconic Princess Auto Stadium.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Banana Ball to Princess Auto Stadium and be part of its historic Canadian debut," said Wade Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "Winnipeg has a tremendous passion for sports and live entertainment, and this is exactly the kind of unique, high-energy experience we love bringing to our city."
The announcement brings together partners from professional sports and tourism, reflecting the opportunity to connect a memorable fan experience with broader benefits for Winnipeg and Manitoba.
"We're delighted to welcome the Canadian premiere of Banana Ball to Manitoba," said Angela Cassie, Travel Manitoba's Interim President & CEO. "Working with our partners to bring incredible sporting events to communities across our province, we're giving visitors more reasons to visit, strengthening Manitoba's $2.4 billion tourism industry, supporting businesses and creating jobs."
With its mix of baseball skill, showmanship, and audience interaction, Banana Ball offers an experience for devoted baseball followers, families, and fans discovering the game for the first time. Winnipeg's Canadian debut will give those audiences an opportunity to be part of a milestone in Banana Ball's growth.
"We're proud to work alongside Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, Travel Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to help bring this event to our community," Katz added. "There is tremendous enthusiasm for sports and entertainment here, and we look forward to welcoming Banana Ball fans and sharing that energy with them."
"Bringing Banana Ball to Winnipeg is an exciting win for our city and another opportunity to showcase Winnipeg on the North American stage," said Natalie Thiesen, Vice President of Tourism, Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism. "With an estimated total economic impact of $3.4 million, this event is a home run for Winnipeg's tourism economy, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and generating excitement throughout our community. Events like this put Winnipeg in the North American spotlight, reinforce our reputation as a destination for unique, world-class experiences and give visitors and residents alike another reason to discover all our city has to offer."
Fans interested in attending must join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on October 31, 2026, at 10:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Joining the list does not guarantee an opportunity to purchase tickets. A random drawing will take place before the event to determine who will have the chance to purchase available tickets. Those selected will be contacted directly with instructions on the next steps.
For ticket information and to join the Ticket Lottery List, visit BananaBall.com/Tickets.
Anyone follow Banana Ball?
I'm curious how the event at Blue Cross Park may different from the one at Princess Auto Stadium.
Never heard of it lol. Guess I'll check some video out see if it's worth while.
Quote from: gobombersgo on Today at 06:02:29 AMAnyone follow Banana Ball?
I'm curious how the event at Blue Cross Park may different from the one at Princess Auto Stadium.
LOL. Nope. Please enlighten us. :D
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on Today at 01:07:19 PMLOL. Nope. Please enlighten us. :D
Banana Ball is a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters. The players are skilled but the rules differ from standard baseball.
Key Rules of Banana Ball• 2-Hour Time Limit: No new inning can start after the clock hits zero.
• Point-Per-Inning: The team with the most runs in an individual inning wins a point; in the final inning, every run counts as a point.
• No Walks ("Ball Four Sprint"): If a pitcher throws ball four, the batter takes off and can sprint around the bases as far as possible while every defensive player touches the ball.
• Fans Catching Fouls = Out: If a fan in the stands catches a foul ball cleanly, the batter is out.
• No Bunting: Bunting is strictly prohibited and results in immediate ejection.
• Stealing First: Batters can attempt to steal first base on any passed ball, wild pitch, or pitch.
From wiki:The Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL or Banana League), is a barnstorming professional baseball league based in Savannah, Georgia. The league plays a version of baseball called Banana Ball. The league's member teams played most of their games at Grayson Stadium until the league's inaugural season in 2026, when teams switched to playing primarily on the road at stadiums around the United States, including football stadiums.
The league has six teams: the Savannah Bananas, the Party Animals, the Firefighters, the Texas Tailgaters, the Loco Beach Coconuts and the Indianapolis Clowns, the latter a revival of the original Negro league baseball team.
Never heard of it before. A few of my friends seem to think it's really popular and will sell out fast.