Popular, Viral Baseball Team is Coming to Iowa City

They've been called everything from "the most fun baseball team ever" to "the best story in sports." Their meteoric rise is the stuff of movies, and their story is stranger than fiction. And they're coming to Iowa City in summer 2026!

Meet the Savannah Bananas, an exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, GA. The easiest way to describe them is "the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball" (to quote sportswriter Joe Pompliano). Since their inception in 2016, they've garnered three league championships, limelight on ESPN and other national outlets, and have gone viral more than a handful of times thanks to their wacky on-field antics.

READ MORE: This Colorful Baseball Team Sold Out Both Their Games in Des Moines

The Savannah Bananas are Coming to Hawkeye Country:

Last week, the University of Iowa announced that the Savannah Bananas would be coming to Kinnick Stadium for back-to-back games, in partnership with Iowa City Area Sports Commission.

The team will be playing two games on July 3rd and July 4th, 2026, respectively, with first pitch for both at 7pm (CST). For two days, "Banana Ball" will be taking over Kinnick. What is Banana Ball, you might ask? Think on-filed antics: choreographed dances, trick plays, props, outlandish rules, and crowd interaction galore.

Eight-Year-old Hugh Harvey of Donahue Made the Announcement:

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Eight-year-old Hugh Harvey of Donahue, IA, who was diagnosed with High-Risk Neuroblastoma in December 2023 and has been receiving care at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, made the announcement regarding the Savannah Bananas playing two games at the University of Iowa.

The Bananas actually flew Harvey and his family to Savannah, GA to make the team announcement. From there, everyone in attendance at Grayson Stadium participated in a special "Iowa Wave" to patients and their families at the children's hospital. UI President Barbara Wilson spoke about how special the Wave is to Iowa as a whole:

One of the most meaningful aspects of hosting this event at Kinnick is the proximity to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The tradition of 'The Wave,' where 70,000 fans wave to the children watching from the hospital’s upper floors -- is one of the most beloved moments in college sports. We are thrilled to incorporate this powerful gesture into the Bananas’ visit, creating a moment of joy and connection for patients and families who inspire us every day - UI President Barbara Wilson, per the University of Iowa website

After his 2023 diagnosis, Harvey underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, two stem cell transplants, and more than 20 rounds of radiation and immunotherapy. Harvey rang the bell to signify being cancer free in May 2025.

How Can You Get Tickets to the Savannah Bananas at Kinnick Stadium?:

Those interested in getting tickets to the Savannah Bananas' game(s) at Kinnick Stadium will need to join the ticket lottery before October 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm (EST). Joining the list doesn't guarantee you the opportunity to buy tickets, but a random drawing will take place before the event. You can find more details here.

After spending their first several years as part of a college summer league that played in the Coastal Plain League, the Savannah Bananas successfully went independent in 2022 and have been so ever since. Read more about the Savannah Bananas coming to Kinnick Stadium on the University of Iowa's website.