Savannah Bananas’ Baseball Stadium, 99-year-old Grayson Stadium, gets face lift

The improvements to the urban facility, some of which are financed by Penny sales tax revenue of $ 3 million, are the latest and most extensive point of view of the owner of the 9-year baseball franchise, Jesse and Emily Cole. In their early years in Savannah, the coles went almost bankrupt in Savannah to build the bananas into a Harlem-globetrotter-like phenomenon that today plays in the Major League stadiums before the sale of crowds, including March data in the Atlanta Truist Park.

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Jesse Cole said that he had the commitment to make Grayson the best what it was ever when the 100th anniversary of the ball park approaches.

“We hope that it is a love letter to Savannah,” said Cole, whose stadium rental contract is a kind of love letter to Savannah by 2030, so that we are a kind of love letter by 2030. This city takes care of this community. “

According to Cole, Savannahians made up about 70% of the 15,000 fans present at the weekend.

Locals and out-of-towners were treated equally with a sensory show, with the lights between the yellow of the bananas and the neonrosa of their nemesis in the field, the party animals. Home Runs set the lights to dance, and the video board brought the fans closer to the high Jinks, which took place in the stands, the shelter and on the field.

The special effects inspired the long -time banana fans Chris and Julie Whelen. Since the 2016 debut season, they have been surprised and entertained about the ability of the Coles about the ability of Coles.

“It is really incredible,” said Chris Whelen from his seats behind the hometown. “The new lights show so many more details. The video board means that you don’t miss anything. The lawn means true hops and more opportunities for trick games. The changes make a difference. “

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Credit: Sarah Peacock

For Eric Cooper, based in Savannah, the bananas are also “AP peeling” without the new frills. He and his wife took part in their second game at the Home Opener on Friday.

“You enjoy it,” said Cooper. “Even the referee is out there to shake the hips. Major League Baseball could make a keyword from the bananas. “

Grayson is the smallest place for Barnstorming Bananas, whose schedule comprises dates in 18 Major League Parks this season and who lasted more than 1 million spectators nationwide last year.

The Savannah Stadium Upgrades, including renovated stands in the left field and the right field line, are intended to improve the experience of fans. For a team in which games are as many circus shows as sporting competitions, the analog feeling of the baseball park could be as annoying as a screeching of the Internet modem.

“Respecting the history of this place is important,” said Danny Hosley, now in his third year for the bananas, “but you can do this and still offer the experience of a modern stadium.” Grayson is now the old with the new one. “

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Credit: Sarah Peacock

An element of the revision that replaces the grass and dirt field with lawn should compensate for Savannah’s fussy summer weather. The soaked thunderstorm before the game is just as predictable as the hanging curve balls in Savannah summer, with puddles in the infield dirt and saturated grass in the outer field often shift the beginning of the games. Rain delays are so often that the bananas have a number of routines to employ the fans while the field looks. Two games were rained last season.

The new playing area is artificial, with the lawn of the hill of the jug, the Home Plate area and the base paths that were painted brown to look like dirt. The field flows quickly and does not require any reporting with Tarps while it rains – a welcome change for Hosley and his teammates, which previously acted as crews for the stage when it came to equipping the field covers.

“I won’t miss to be in the Tarp obligation,” said Hosley.

Another fan -friendly field change, which was carried out during the overhaul, was 10 feet away from the backstop. This shortened the distance between the box of the battery and the outer field wall, from which Cole hopes that they will be transferred in more Homeruns in the cavernous baseball stadium.

“We treat Homeruns with larger bats, larger dances and larger celebrations differently,” said Cole. “This gives us the opportunity to do this more often.”

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Credit: Sarah Peacock