I think this latest “game” is yet another attempt in what has become a series of pathetic attempts at finding something - anything - to fill air time on sports channels. I think the market has reached its saturation point.
Even ESPN is lopping heads as if it were going through the sports version of the French Revolution.
I have to disagree with you here. As noted above, while a relative handful of Banana Ball games get televised, it was primarily developed, and is still, at its core, intended to be an in-person experience.
If anything, I suspect that it has its genesis in just how slow-paced baseball, especially at the major league level, had become, and how the sport’s fan base was aging.
As has been noted, it’s more akin to the fan experience at minor league baseball games (especially in the low minors), where the teams market to families, and build a range of entertainment around the game itself, to keep fans engaged and happy throughout the game.
Here’s a recent 60 Minutes segment on the game:
Well, that sounds awesome! We were paying regular Wrigley concession prices, where $25 will get you a hot dog and a soda. And the players did come into the stands a couple times, but obviously only a small percentage of the crowd got to interact with them.
I went to a minor league game for the first time in years this summer (Eugene Emeralds, short season A ball, as minor as it gets) and quite enjoyed it for all the reasons people have cited. And they only played music between the innings!
I wanted to add something to this. While VIB tickets are out of the price range of a lot of people, and the VAST majority of people don’t have the access to be able to even buy them (I’m a member of the “K-Club” and get guaranteed opportunities to buy tickets every year), this experience sums up Bananaball’s insistence on putting fans first. Players have a policy of signing autographs or having a conversation with fans until there are no more fans to sign for or talk to. It’s really impressive how well they stick to it, even after a long day in the sun.
Other VIB experiences I know people have had are to spend an inning in the batting cages in the clubhouse, going up to the owner’s suite to meet everyone there, to be on the field during various songs/contests, etc. It won’t be the last time I do it.
Have you read any of this thread for comprehension? They whole thing started organically and then went viral. TV had nothing to do with it until recently.
I’ve only once seen a game on TV. For the longest time, my only exposure to Banana Ball has been through YouTube videos.
I think it actually wouldn’t be ideal for TV programming, because the time between innings seems much shorter than MLB, which is good unless you’re selling commercial time.
I saw a little bit on our Tigers network. A bunch of guys in baseball uniforms did some sort of dance routine. I don’t know if they were players or what. The announcers yell like American Ninja Warriors announcers. The real low point for me, was some guy was talking to the announcers dressed in a top hat and a Cruela Deville coat (he reminded me of kid rock) all white fur and black polka dots. It was like Baseball ad WWF had a baby.
I didn’t see much game play. If I did see any the memory was overwritten by all the yelling and the dalmatiion coat.
They are the Harlem Globetrotters with baseball uniforms and bats
Overly loud music is becoming the scourge of a lot of live sports events. I have to bring hearing protection to try to slow the worsening of my tinnitus. It is making me start to avoid them now. Same is true for movies. Some of them are so FUCKING LOUD now! I say this as someone that is in a loud rock band. But, rock music is the one place it is supposed to be loud. 
I could ask you the same question because you misinterpreted my post. They didn’t invent the game for TV. In fact, a lot of the crap they are televising wasn’t invented for TV. TV went looking for them because they need to fill in their air time. THAT was my point. I just did a quick search and came up with “over 100” different sports channels and apps. That’s a lot of air time to fill. Just last night I happened to surf into women’s flag football. Ooooh, how exciting. 
If by ‘this latest “game”’ you are referring to Banana Ball (and most of us think you must be), then your statement can be read as:
“I think Banana Ball is yet another attempt in what has become a series of pathetic attempts at finding something - anything - to fill air time on sports channels.”
And, as many have already pointed out, you are flat-out wrong.
If ‘this latest “game”’ refers to something other than Banana Ball, then please tell us, so we can interpret your post correctly.
Whether or not you like the game one thing that can’t be argued is the organization is the opposite of corporate greed. Some of the games get broadcast on ESPN. 100% of the games are free on YouTube for anyone to see. For their home games basic concessions are free and included in the very affordable ticket price. With the demand for tickets they could be charging much more than they do. They do everything they can to keep the tickets from going to scalpers. The players are getting paid 3-4 times as much as AA players. The owner could be getting much more money off this but chooses to spread the wealth. He’s also an active foster parent and runs a nonprofit advocating for fostering at risk children.
I get it if people don’t like the brand of entertainment. It’s really hard to be cynical about the business once you look into it.
You said:
I interpreted this as you indicating that you believe that Banana Ball was created specifically to fill air time on sports channels. Which, as has been stated, was not its genesis. Yes, it gets carried – sometimes – on sports channels as well as on regular broadcast channels, but only several years after it started.
If that was not what you intended to communicate, then my apologies, but your wording could have been clearer, because I wasn’t the only one who interpreted it that way.
It’s just the baseball equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters.
I’m not sure why it’s getting people in the media angry.
It is indeed admirable on multiple levels that the charitable arm of the organization is called “Bananas Foster”.
No problem. I, too, believe that the clarity of a discussion is the responsibility of the poster, and in retrospect I’m sorry I wasn’t clear enough. My problem was the opening comment: “Have you read any of this thread for comprehension?” It was passive-aggressive and offended me because it implied that I’m too dull to understand what I read. At any rate, the matter is closed and there are no hard feelings on my part.
If there’s any organization that should be flamed, it’s this one. 
d&r