Banana Ball World Tour posts record weekend at Bank of America Stadium
A record number of fans flocked to Bank of America Stadium Friday and Saturday to see the Banana Ball World Tour during its two-night slate in uptown Charlotte.
A combined 148,000 fans were in attendance to watch the Party Animals take on the Savannah Bananas throughout the weekend. Prior to Saturday’s matchup, Jesse Cole, owner of Fans First Entertainment and the Bananas, announced to the sellout crowd that it had produced the largest combined weekend attendance number in Banana Ball World Tour history.
“For me, it obviously means a lot,” Cole said after Saturday’s game. “Started in Gastonia — this small, little team, the Gastonia Grizzlies — in a 2,000-seat stadium. And so to be here, 74,000 back-to-back nights, to break a record here for Banana Ball, and to see this response from this community, was overwhelming. I know it’s just the start, but boy, this was a big win for us, and we’re just so grateful for the city of Charlotte, the Charlotte Sports Commission (and) the Panthers for giving us a chance here.”
The crowd was treated to more than two hours of baseball, trick plays, dance numbers, musical performances, fireworks, light shows, and cameos from current Carolina Panthers players, wide receiver Adam Thielen and quarterback Andy Dalton.
Thielen, the Panthers’ leading receiver of the past two seasons, showed up early in the game and did his trademark Griddy dance on home plate.
Later on in the evening, Dalton took part in what the Bananas called “undodgeball,” which featured the QB throwing several footballs at a contestant who couldn’t fire back. Dalton slinging the ball at the man offered a bit of levity to the night-long pile, as fans laughed and cheered.
Dalton, who has played at Bank of America Stadium over the past two seasons, said the turnout over the weekend was a reminder that Charlotte has a deep sports fan base.
“There’s passion in this city, and it’s cool to see it come together,” Dalton told The Observer. “For this to be here two nights in a row, and to be sold out both nights, I mean that just kind of shows that Charlotte loves sports. And hopefully, it’ll translate to Panthers game as well. We’ll have a crowd like this, and hopefully, our entertainment will be just the same as this is, too — everybody will be engaged.”
Following the announcement of the weekend attendance record, Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, released a statement to The Observer.
“This past weekend was nothing short of historic for Charlotte as we hosted the largest weekend of Banana Ball ever, welcoming over 148,000 fans to Uptown,” Pitts said in the statement. “The energy, the joy, and the community spirit were unmatched — and the impact of this event is a true testament to what’s possible when great organizations come together.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Savannah Bananas for bringing their unique and unforgettable Banana Ball to our city, and to our amazing partners at Tepper Sports & Entertainment and the CRVA for helping make it all happen. This was more than just a game — it was a celebration of fun, family, and what makes Charlotte special.”
The World Tour has six sellout events coming up in June, including Grand Rapids, Mich. next week. A potential return to Charlotte wouldn’t be announced until October, when the tour releases its schedule for next season.
This story was originally published June 7, 2025 at 10:50 PM.
