Savannah -Bananas ready to start the season on upgraded Grayson Stadium

On By Littum

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  • The Savannah -Banans have upgraded their Home Stadium, Historic Grayson Stadium, with new square, lighting and a video table.
  • The improvements were partly funded by $ 3 million from the City of Savannah’s special local option tax (Splost) VII.
  • The bananas play about 30 games in Savannah this season, including the first Tour championship ever between all four banana ball teams.

Savannah Bananas -Catcher Bill Leroy bent on one knee behind the bullpen plate on a cold, dull savanna afternoon. When the ball hit his glove, he quickly fell into his open hand, jumped off the grass and then tried to kick it up again with his foot. Leroy begins its eighth season on February 1st and works behind the record. But before Banana Ball had taken the world by storm, Leroy found itself to work to make much necessary improvements to the dressing room at Historic Grayson Stadium.

“I actually jumped some of the floor out to the dressing room and painted a lot of the dressing room to get it to FIRSTANT got to experience the growth of this place. It’s just a blessing to be a part of. “

The Savannah bananas all went with Banana Ball World Tour in 2023 and last year expanded the trip to play in front of sold out crowds on six large league ball parks. In January, players from both the Savannah Banans and the party animals returned to the historic Grayson Stadium for their spring practice as they prepare for a “record break” 2025 season.

While the players were warming up, coach Tyler asked Gillum to get the lights on. A quick phone call later, and the recently installed LED lighting system flashed, which illuminated the players below as they threw balls back and forth and occasionally jumped from the new artificial grass field.

Building of bricks of brick

Before exercise, coach Tyler Gillum gave a speech to the players about how Banana Ball was built ‘Brick by Brick by Brick’. “I’ve been here since 2018, and Jesse and Emily built it.” Said Gillum “And here’s the next level of putting another brick on the banana kingdom here. The new square is incredible. We can play more games. We don’t get to figure out that much. And it will also help with trick playings. The guys are fired up around the grass. “

Apart from the improved lighting and peat was a new Videodoard in the background and replaced the old one that was hit by lightning many years ago. The improvements were part of an updated lease agreement between the bananas and the city of Savannah, which included $ 3 million from the Special Local Option Sales Tax (Splost) VII proceeds earmarked to the historic facility that will mark 100 years in 2026. It is a significant investment in Considering Savannah is one of the smallest stadiums the teams will play during the Banana Ball World Tour in 2025.

Major League Field and Lights

As Banana Ball continues to grow in popularity, team owner Jesse Cole leads for new ways of playing before more fans – without playing more games. This season includes playing at 18 Major League Baseball Parks and three football stadiums that will hold between 69,000 fans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, home to Tennessee Titans, to 81,000 fans at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.

“I think it talks a lot to how much we are interested in and how much pride we have to be from Savannah,” said Banana’s Pitcher Kyle Luigs, “because this is not far away from any of them Surfaces we have to play everywhere this year. ”

With approx. 30 games scheduled for games in Savannah this season, including the first Tour championship ever between all four banana ball teams-savannah bananas, party animals, firefighters and Texas Tailgaters-there are plenty of opportunities for players to show their skills in the new square Without Mother Nature that disturbs and floods the field.

“Turfet is fantastic,” added Party Animals Pitcher Bret Helton “It’s very cool to know that we can show up to work without an extra thing. You know to have practices delayed or practice or a game canceled. It’s very cool to be like, okay, we’re going to show up here. We will push the envelope. “

Richard Burkhart is the visual journalist for Savannah Morning News. You can reach [email protected].