KNOXVILLE, TN (October 10, 2025) – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Visit Knoxville announces that Banana Ball will be coming to Knoxville in 2026 on Memorial Day weekend. Following Thursday night’s livestreamed announcement on ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+, and the Banana Ball YouTube, the Lottery List for tickets is now open and will stay open until October 31, 2025. Premium seats will go on sale in the coming weeks on each respective venue’s ticket platform, not through the Banana Ball Lottery List.
Banana Ball, or the Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL) from 2026 onward, is a barnstorming exhibition baseball league based in Savannah, Georgia. The league has played most of their games at Grayson Stadium since its inaugural season. The league has four teams: the Savannah Bananas, the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and the Texas Tailgaters.
Banana Ball has become the fastest and most entertaining game in sports. With its fast-paced rules and emphasis on continuous play, Banana Ball strips away the often-criticized lulls and lengthy pauses typical of traditional baseball, delivering a high-octane and entertainment-packed game that keeps both players and fans on their toes. Banana Ball has 11 unique rules. The most notorious rule is that if a fan catches a foul ball, it counts as an out.
In Knoxville, the Savannah Bananas will be facing off against the Texas Tailgaters for two games. The first game will take place on Thursday, May 21, at Covenant Health Park. This award-winning facility (BaseballParks.com 2025 Ballpark of the Year) will be a perfect host for Banana Ball. The second game will take place on Saturday, May 23, at Neyland Stadium. It marks the first baseball game to be hosted inside Neyland Stadium since the stadium opened in 1921. The University of Tennessee and Visit Knoxville have partnered together on multiple occasions to bring major events to Neyland, including Garth Brooks’ Stadium Tour in 2019 and Morgan Wallen’s hometown concerts in 2024. This will be the first time Banana Ball comes to Knoxville.
“We worked hand in hand with the University of Tennessee Athletics, the Knoxville Smokies, and of course, the Savannah Bananas, to bring this event to Knoxville,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “This partnership speaks to the collaborative and fun-loving spirit of our destination, and we can’t wait to share the stands with lucky Lottery List winners from near and far.”
“With an iconic venue like Neyland Stadium, we are determined to explore every opportunity to host signature events on Rocky Top, well beyond just football game days,” said Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White. “Banana Ball has achieved remarkable success nationwide, and we are thrilled to announce that the Savannah Bananas will be making their way to Neyland Stadium.”
“Covenant Health Park will be a perfect venue to host Banana Ball in 2026,” said Chris Allen, President and COO of Boyd Sports. “This is an epic event for our stadium, and we know how to make baseball special here, whether for our own Knoxville Smokies or for exclusive teams like the Savannah Bananas and the Texas Tailgaters.”
“We are so excited to host the Savannah Bananas in Knoxville,” said City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. “What a win for our city! People travel from all over to see Banana Ball, and now it will be right in our backyard. I can’t wait to see all the smiles in the stands when the Savannah Bananas take the field.”
“This is an exciting time for baseball in Knoxville,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “With the University of Tennessee’s baseball team winning their College World Series, a successful inaugural season at Covenant Health Park for the Knoxville Smokies, and now Banana Ball coming to town—we are doing America’s favorite pastime right.”
Visit bananaball.com for the full 2026 city lineup.
TICKET FAQ:
How can I get tickets?
Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on November 1, 2025. Joining the list doesn’t guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place before the event for the chance to purchase available tickets. If you’re drawn, you’ll have an opportunity to continue through the verification process.
You can find the Ticket Lottery List at bananaball.com.
Fans interested in premium seating options at Neyland, submit your information here.
ABOUT VISIT KNOXVILLE
Visit Knoxville (Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau) is the official CVB for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Visit Knoxville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private company that works together with the community, business leaders, and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier leisure, meetings, and travel destination. Tourism is the second highest grossing industry in the state of Tennessee. Knoxville/Knox County annually produces over $1 billion in travel spending. For more information, go to visitknoxville.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
###
Kristen Combs
Director of Communications
Visit Knoxville
865.306.4341
kcombs@knoxville.org
