ACQ2 by Acquired Building the Savannah Bananas (with Jesse Cole, Founder and Owner)
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Jun 16, 2025 
Jesse Cole, founder and owner of the Savannah Bananas, shares his journey from struggling to revamping baseball into an exhilarating experience with 'Banana Ball.' Forget traditional rules; in this game, stepping out of the box means a strike, and fans catching foul balls means outs! He reveals their all-in ticket package, merging food and fun while ditching ads and fees. With 3.2 million in line for tickets, Jesse's fan-first, long-term strategy has transformed skepticism into fervent support, making the Bananas a viral sensation.
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Starting in Savannah After Proposal
- Jesse proposed to his wife at a ballgame, then visited Savannah and saw their historic stadium nearly empty.
- He convinced the city to lease the stadium for a college summer team after the minor league team left.
Desperate Early Days in Savannah
- The Savannah Bananas started disastrously, selling only two tickets in three months.
- Jesse and Emily sold their house, lived in a garage on a twin airbed, and shopped with $30 a week to keep the team afloat.
Fans First Over Sponsorships
- Eliminating ads and sponsorships was a deliberate choice to put fans first.
- Jesse prioritizes creating an end-to-end fan experience over short-term revenue from sponsors.
