Banana Ball makes fun a priority with pregame tailgate
Carpio Griego
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fans had the opportunity to get to Southwest University Park early before Friday’s Banana Ball game between the Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters. Players signed autographs while music and merch booths kept fans entertained.
Tailgater staff made fan engagement a priority, having several mini dance contests, passing around inflatable popsicle toys and even awarding a “Top Tailgater.”
The Tailgaters’ two step team even directed choreography for the fans to incorporate dancing into the pregame festivities.
Banana Ball seems to draw in new fans as soon as they see it according to the fans that shared their story of discovering the league.
Fans like Dennis McGregory, who told ABC-7 his first time watching at the gym was enough to peak his interest and says he got his tickets through a lottery draw.
“One day I was at the gym and I saw it on TV, and I was like man this is cool, what is this,” McGregory said. “I heard they were coming to town and heard about the lotto, so I put my name in and that was it.”
Another fan, Alexander Smith, said his first exposure to the style of Banana Ball was on social media, and the fun of it drew his interest.
“I’ve always wanted to see it, it’s a different type of baseball,” Smith said. “It seems more entertaining and fast paced.”
McGregory had a similar sentiment, comparing Banana Ball to the Harlem Globetrotters.
“It’s fun, they make everything fun,” McGregory said. “Everything goes by pretty fast and gets the whole family involved, its cool. It’s like the Globetrotters of baseball, that’s why I like it.”
McGregory hesitated, but even said he prefers Banana Ball over regular baseball.
Smith agreed, saying it was more entertaining but also said regular baseball was more competitive.
“Personally, Banana Ball is more fun to watch,” Smith said. “Baseball, I think, is more competitive. I would prefer Banana Ball.”
The fan experience was shown to be a big part of the evening as Tailgaters players performed stage for the fans to entertain them before the first pitch.
Smith said it’s good for the growth of baseball as a sport that Banana Ball can exist at the same time as regular baseball.
“I think it is good for baseball, but it’s good that it’s separate. There’s normal baseball and there’s more fun Banana Ball.”
“The passion that they have for the game and that they’re out here playing it for the fun of what baseball really is. Brings you back to when you were a kid,” Banana Ball fan Yolie Zapata told ABC-7.
Watch how fans enjoyed the pregame experience on ABC-7 at 10.