--:-- [Upbeat music plays in the background]
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza.
--:-- Jason Gay: I'm Jason Gay, a colleague of Jessica's.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: It's Friday, August 8th. Today, we're talking about a new game that's taking America by storm: Banana Ball. Jason, you recently attended a game and I'm curious to hear about your experience.
--:-- Jason Gay: It was a Friday night in Baltimore. Shockingly temperate. It was the perfect night for a ballgame. Last weekend, I caught a game at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. That's the place where the Orioles play. The place was completely packed. It felt more like a party than any baseball game I'd ever been to.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And it really delivered on what the phenomenon has been. The phenomenon you were there to see wasn't the Orioles. It wasn't even really baseball. You were there for Banana Ball.
--:-- Jason Gay: Banana Ball, taking America's favorite pastime to new and often ridiculous heights. The wildest thing in sports today. It's part baseball, part big top, and nonstop fun.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And just for the uninitiated, what is Banana Ball? Could you describe it?
--:-- Jason Gay: Banana Ball is a fast-paced, circus-like, short attention span attack on your senses. It is really all about entertainment maximization at all times. And it is an answer to anybody's lament that baseball has become boring.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Banana Ball is a lot like baseball. There are pitchers and batters, infielders and outfielders. But the players do more than just play ball. They wear crazy costumes. They cartwheel and dance and perform all kinds of tricks.
--:-- Jason Gay: D.R. Meadows barehanded backflip. Unbelievable. In other words, they put on a show. Except it isn't a show. It's a real competition, just with a little more panache.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And fans are eating it up. They are selling out Major League Baseball stadiums across the country. They drew 81,000 people to a college football stadium.
--:-- Jason Gay: You know, it's kind of hard to argue that the audience is there and wants to see it. And you can't help but say, what is going on here?
--:-- [Upbeat music continues to play]
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Welcome back to The Journal. We're talking about Banana Ball, a new game that's taking America by storm. Jason, you mentioned that the game is part baseball, part big top, and nonstop fun. Can you tell us more about what makes it so unique?
--:-- Jason Gay: Well, the players do more than just play ball. They wear crazy costumes, cartwheel, dance, and perform all kinds of tricks. And the game itself is fast-paced, with a focus on entertainment maximization.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the fans? What's the experience like for them?
--:-- Jason Gay: The fans are a big part of the show. They're encouraged to participate in all sorts of activities, from boogieing with the Banana Nanas, a senior citizen dance team, to rallying with the Man Nanas, a cheerleading squad.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And the pregame is a key part of the Banana Ball experience. There are dozens of events that can happen on the field before the game starts.
--:-- Jason Gay: Yeah, it's a big part of the show. The fans are really engaged, and it's a lot of fun.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the actual game? How does it compare to traditional baseball?
--:-- Jason Gay: The game itself is still baseball, but with some tweaks. The two-hour time limit, for example, is a big part of the show. The players are encouraged to move quickly, and the game is designed to be fast-paced and exciting.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the scoring? How does that work?
--:-- Jason Gay: Scoring works a little differently in Banana Ball. If a batter hits a foul ball into the stands and a fan catches it, that counts as an actual out in the game.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the cost? How much does it cost to attend a Banana Ball game?
--:-- Jason Gay: In Baltimore, I paid $60 for a ticket, which is relatively cheap compared to other professional sporting events.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the response to Banana Ball? Are there regulars now, people who follow these games from game to game?
--:-- Jason Gay: Oh, my gosh. I'm so glad you mentioned that because that was something I thought most people would be like me, just kind of curious. But there are some real super fans of Banana Ball, people who have jerseys of players, people who have made homemade signs, people who come from far and wide.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And how did you first hear about Banana Ball?
--:-- Jason Gay: I actually heard about it online. I saw some videos of the game and was intrigued.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the founder of Banana Ball? Can you tell us more about him?
--:-- Jason Gay: Yeah, the founder of Banana Ball is Jesse Cole. He's a really interesting guy, and I had a chance to talk to him about the game.
--:-- [Music transitions to an interview segment]
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Welcome back to The Journal. We're talking about Banana Ball, a new game that's taking America by storm. Joining me now is Jesse Cole, the founder of Banana Ball. Jesse, thanks for being here.
--:-- Jesse Cole: Thanks for having me, Jessica.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: So, Jesse, can you tell us a little bit about how you got started with Banana Ball?
--:-- Jesse Cole: Yeah, sure. I played baseball in college, but after an injury, I found myself mostly in the stands. As someone watching the game, I realized it was pretty slow, pretty long, pretty boring. And I just wasn't excited watching the game anymore.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what did you do to change that?
--:-- Jesse Cole: I started looking at all the parts of a baseball game that are too long, too slow, too boring. And I started writing down ideas. We played the first Banana Ball game behind closed doors in 2018, and since then, it's grown pretty well.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what's the key to making Banana Ball work?
--:-- Jesse Cole: The key is to focus on the fans. We want to create an experience that's fun, entertaining, and engaging. We've learned a lot from Saturday Night Live, WWE, and Cirque du Soleil, and we're always looking for new ways to innovate and improve the game.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the business side of things? How do you make money from Banana Ball?
--:-- Jesse Cole: We sell tickets directly to fans, and we don't have traditional sponsorship or advertising. We're playing the long game, focusing on building a loyal fan base and creating a sustainable business model.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And what about the future of Banana Ball? Where do you see the game going?
--:-- Jesse Cole: We're excited to see where the game takes us. We're already expanding to new markets and growing our fan base. We're confident that Banana Ball is here to stay.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: And finally, what message do you have for Major League Baseball and other professional sports leagues?
--:-- Jesse Cole: I think there's a lot they can learn from Banana Ball. We're focused on creating a fun, entertaining experience for fans, and we're willing to take risks and try new things. I think that's something that can benefit all sports leagues.
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Jesse Cole, thanks for being here and sharing your insights with us.
--:-- Jesse Cole: Thanks, Jessica.
--:-- [Music transitions back to the host]
--:-- Jessica Mendoza: Thanks for listening to this episode of The Journal. If you want to learn more about Banana Ball, check out our show notes for links to the game's website and social media channels.
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