Savannah Bananas fans outraged after Georgia baseball team ticket fiasco. Here’s what we know
The Savannah Bananas ticket lottery for 2025 home games this season took place on Friday, Jan. 31.
Fans and those hoping for tickets waited anxiously for their time slot to arrive, but before the time struck, fans were notified via email that all tickets had sold out and were then shut out of the website.
“All shows at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah have completely sold out!” the email read. “We are overwhelmed with the support you’ve shown us over the years.”
What happened?
As thousands of fans were shut out of the website and denied tickets before the lottery even started, the team knew they had a problem.
The Savannah Bananas team notified 45,000 people that they would have the chance to buy these tickets when only 4,000 tickets were available.
This left 41,000 eager fans in the dark.
Hours after the ticketing mishap, team president Jared Orton sent the following statement to fans on the team’s email list:
“We mistakenly notified 45,000 people that they would have the chance to buy these tickets when we should have only notified 4,000 people. We should have only had two time slots lined up and mistakenly had 12 time slots. This mistake caused 90% of the Fans in the lottery to think they would have a chance for these tickets, but in reality, they should have never gotten that messaging.”
This apology was released to fans right before the team started their first game of the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour in front of a sold-out crowd in Mesa, Ariz.
What is the ticket lottery?
The Savannah Bananas team holds a ticket lottery that works as a random drawing. If you join the lottery list, and your name is selected from the drawing, you have a chance to purchase available tickets.
The drawings take place about two months before the event, according to the Savannah Bananas ticket page.
The Banana Ball World Tour Ticket Lottery List closed on Nov. 1, 2024.
Fans online outraged
Hopeful fans expressed disappointment and frustration online.
In a post made on Saturday, Feb. 1 by the Savannah Bananas team sharing a link to watch their first game of the season, upset fans flooded the comments.
“[I] was told yesterday that I had a window to buy tickets, but 2.5 hours before that window, I received another email saying ‘Sorry All Sold Out.’ Talk about major disappointment,” said one fan in a comment.
Another comment read, “They do this EVERY year. Mostly with the K Club but it looks like they did it to the Savannah general public this time.”
“I was one of the 90% of fans who thought they had a chance to purchase for a game in Savannah but it turns out it was just a big gaffe on the part of the Bananas,” said an upset fan in a comment. “I’ve supported the organization well before it gained in popularity but this has disappointed me beyond belief. I will not be watching or supporting this season.”
How are they fixing the problem?
To make up for the mistake, the Savannah Bananas are offering free tickets to affected fans.
In an email sent by Orton, it states that fans who didn’t get tickets through the lottery are now being offered five tickets to one Savannah Bananas game outside of the Hostess City.
Orton noted in his email on Friday that the 41,000 fans who were notified about tickets, “should have never gotten that messaging.”
The team states that all games from May through September are available. This includes the 14 MLB and two NFL stadiums they are expected to play in.
Fans affected are expected to receive another email Monday, Feb. 3, with instructions to redeem their tickets, which will hopefully make up for the massive mishap.
What are other ways to buy tickets to games?
Purchasing regular tickets
The team only sells their tickets through FansFirstTickets.com.
Prices start at $35 and range up to $125 for premium experiences. You can join the ticket interest list to stay up to date on future games and offerings.
Season Tickets
Savannah Bananas offers season memberships too. While their 2025 memberships are at capacity, you can still purchase tickets to future games.
Savannah Bananas K Club
The K Club is a membership club for the Savannah Bananas that offers special perks, discounts and experiences. These often include:
The ability to purchase up to six tickets to Banana Ball games before the lottery list.
Exclusive surprise K Club games and events
First access to all the games, meet and greets and premium experiences
Exclusive merch drops and new items
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM.
