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Owner Jesse Cole is making people fall in love with the game of baseball again one inning at a time with promotions not found anywhere else in the sport, delivering one sell-out after another. Summer nights at the Bananas’ Grayson Stadium are nothing short of magical, with the perfect fusion of good college baseball, and unmatched ‘fans first’ experiences.

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Sports & Entertainment

First Pitch: The Savannah Bananas Take the Field

June 11, 2020
Jesse Cole

When Cole, his wife and their small team began working to replicate past success in Savannah, they sold two tickets…in three months. The lowest point came shortly after, when the team was informed it had completely overdrawn the organization’s bank account. Instead of folding, Cole and his wife doubled down. They sold their house, going all-in on the Bananas. Then a lightbulb went off. By working from small experiments and building on what worked, small wins began to trickle in.

Recent Episodes

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Listen Carefully, Respond Creatively

In this captivating episode of the Fans First series, Jesse Cole, the mastermind behind the Savannah Bananas, delves into the transformative business philosophy of “listen carefully, respond creatively.” This approach has not only skyrocketed the Savannah Bananas to fame but also serves as a universal blueprint for revolutionizing customer service and engagement across all sectors. […]

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Pre-Game: Normal Gets Normal Results

The Savannah Bananas are a baseball team – but owner Jesse Cole knows they aren’t in the baseball industry. They’re in the Fans First Experience industry. The game of baseball comes with a slew of challenges – it’s too slow, or too boring, or too long, or too antiquated. But, instead of seeing friction, Cole […]

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First Inning – Warmup

A lifelong baseball fan, Jesse Cole has seen it all. From potential big-league dreams to a journey toward finding how best to engage with the game after his career came to a close, Cole eventually landed an internship with a small team in South Carolina. Since, he’s held key roles in several organizations and innovated […]