Training That Hits Different: Go Bananas!

Inspiration really can come from anywhere — even bananas. No, not the fruit (I’ve never been a fan), but the Savannah Bananas, a wild, rule-bending baseball team that's redefining entertainment. As a lifelong baseball fan, I never thought I’d learn so much about hospitality training from a sport known for sunflower seeds and seventh-inning naps. Growing up, I watched every Florida Marlins game with my grandfather. We'd mute the TV and listen to Rafael "Felo" Ramírez call the game on Spanish radio — his narration made even a scoreless game thrilling. He was so prolific at calling games that in 2001 he was the first Hispanic broadcaster to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Without him at the stadium, I kept stats just to stay awake. Baseball has always been part of my life, but the Savannah Bananas made me see it — and my work — differently.

The Savannah Bananas, founded in 2016, play their own version of the game — “Banana Ball” — with one goal: maximize fan experience. From dancing players to time-limited innings, every choice they make is about energy and engagement. Even their ticket system is designed to create fairness and anticipation — a lottery, no resellers, no seat selection — and it works. They seem to have mastered the art of seating arrangements while maximizing revenue and filling every single spot. Imagine doing the same, ensuring every bed had at least one head every single night. They’re selling out 60,000+ seat stadiums to play a sport that has endured declining numbers in both TV viewers and in-person spectators. If you want to see more about how they describe themselves, I encourage you to read their about us page.

Recently, I lucked into tickets for their world tour. The stadium hosting the Savannah Bananas is where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play. As a sports fan, I have been there for plenty of professional and college football events. This was by far the largest and loudest crowd I have ever seen there. Baseball was played in front of 65,000 people. When was the last time that happened outside the World Series? Later that month, the Savannah Bananas played at Clemson University’s Memorial stadium in front of a record-breaking 81,000 fans. Let’s not forget – this is baseball we are talking about. The same sport where fans often turn to sunflower seeds to stay awake between plays.

Beyond having a blast at this game, where the owner (Jesse Cole) is the ultimate host in his all-yellow suit and bowler hat, all I saw were the different things that we can do to make our work environments more engaging and attractive. Think about it, they are playing baseball. A sport where there is little interest until the playoffs come around. The monotony in baseball is real, as can be the everyday of our hotel and restaurant environments. How fun can we really make changing the sheets? Not only are the fans having a blast, but so are the players. They are encouraged to complete trick plays and dance their way to the next plate. They take the Johnny Rockets choreographed dancing to another level. If you were at CHART 106 in Chicago, you remember the most epic tournament of rock, paper, scissors led by Rachel Richal. Imagine that you took every opportunity in a training session or during a shift to inject silly and real fun. If we did that, I bet our teams would be begging for more training. If we shifted our thinking from providing exceptional hospitality toward creating great memories for our teams while providing exceptional hospitality, I believe we can start to sell out our training sessions. Here are a few Bananas-inspired ideas to bring playfulness into your hospitality training:  

Whether it’s baseball or business, monotony is the enemy of engagement. The Savannah Bananas didn’t just change the game — they reimagined it for joy. If we bring that same spirit into our training rooms, our teams won’t just show up — they’ll show up cheering. Go bananas.

What’s your Banana Ball moment? Share one playful training idea that could energize your team – and try it this week.