Well if they are the ​Savannah Bananas​—everything!

The owners of the Savannah Bananas are my friend and legend ​Jesse Cole​ (always dressed in his iconic yellow tuxedo—he owns seven of them!) and his lovely wife Emily (Yes, I am name dropping!). He’s a friend and he made me look a little cool to our teenage neighbors when we got to attend their sold out show in Tampa. I am ridiculously proud of their incredible success and commitment to each other, their community, and delivering a unique experience in the world.

Banana Ball: Sports Reimagined

If you haven’t heard of the Savannah Bananas yet, treat yourself and watch their videos immediately and get on their 3-Million-person waitlist for tickets! Their story is a brilliant example of determination, focus, resilience and vision.

They set out to make baseball fun—even my American friends have to admit, baseball games are loooong and sometimes boring! But time disappears when watching a Savannah Bananas game and you don’t ever want it to be over! If you’ve been privileged to experience this first hand and attended Banana Ball, or watched them on ​TikTok​, or ​YouTube​, or their feature on ​60 minutes​, you realize quickly you are in the presence of one of the most phenomenal examples of an Exceptional Experience I’ve ever encountered.

So what helped them transform a struggling team playing to empty seats into “The Greatest Show in Sports,” and revolutionizing America’s pastime? Everything they do is focused on one brilliantly simple mantra: “Fans First. Entertain Always.”

Jesse was always a fan of PT Barnum and you will see that influence at the games. They are dedicated to bringing families together—their performances are designed for every generation and are a great example of being inclusive in every way. Second? They put the fan first. That’s something that lots of brands claim, but they live it, it’s in their team DNA.

You’ve heard me say you don’t have to provide a luxury product to provide a luxury service and the Savannah Bananas are mindblowingly exceptional.

Experience Elevation Model: Five Luxury Levers in Action

In our new book, ​Exceptional Experiences​, we share a contextual model that every business can apply (regardless of your size and which industry you are in) that helps those businesses attract their clients’ attention and then, through systems of elevation, turn those clients into passionate advocates.

The Savannah Bananas perfectly demonstrate our Five Luxury Levers:

ENTICE: They brilliantly capture attention through viral social media content and created their own “Banana Ball” rules to make baseball more fun and engaging!

INVITE: Every touchpoint is an opportunity for interaction—online, in-person, on the field, in the stands, with the players—they’ve reimagined the entire fan journey.

EXCITE: They tap into the social zeitgeist, and their 25 million social followers can’t stop sharing their experiences—creating anticipation for others who haven’t yet experienced the Banana magic!

DELIGHT: They turn obstacles into opportunities! When it poured rain at their Tampa game, they transformed the ground cover into a slip-and-slide, turning potential disappointment into pure joy.

IGNITE: Their consistent excellence creates passionate brand advocates. Every stadium sells out, every show delivers, and they make it look effortless.

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