VOL 26 ISSUE 34, Aug. 25, 2025
Known for turning baseball into a full-blown entertainment experience, the Savannah Bananas – a viral sensation famous for their choreographed dance routines, trick plays and fan participation – brought their high-energy “Banana Ball” to Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, on August 15–16 as part of their 2025 tour.
Delaware North Sportservice – the longtime hospitality partner of the Chicago White Sox – stepped up to the plate with a lineup of bold, banana-inspired food and beverage offerings that were as unforgettable as the game itself.
“We wanted to match the Bananas’ energy with a menu that’s just as fun, flavorful and unexpected,” said Joey Nigro, general manager for Delaware North at Rate Field. “These offerings are a celebration of creativity and community – and we couldn’t wait for fans to dig in.”
From jerk chicken nachos served in banana-shaped boats to banana pudding topped with Nilla Wafers and whipped cream, the culinary team at Delaware North crafted a menu that celebrated the Bananas’ signature flair with a Chicago twist.
Featured items included the Jamaica Jerk Chicken Sandwich with banana peppers; Jerk Chicken Nachos Grande; Chicago-Style Banana Dog; a Stuffed Banana Pepper; Italian Beef and Banana Pepper Pizza; Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers and whipped cream; Banana Beer; Mini Melts Ice Cream Banana Split and Banana Cotton Candy. Fans could also grab a 32-ounce souvenir soda vessel and Bananas-branded popcorn boxes.
The two-game event drew more than 80,000 fans to Rate Field, with a total of 194,550 concessions items sold over the weekend. The Banana Beer was a crowd favorite, selling out with 3,360 units, which represented 29.4% of total craft beer units sold.
To cap off the entertainment, fans joined together in singing Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ toward the end of the show, creating a memorable and heartfelt conclusion to the festivities.
The inventive dishes were covered by Yahoo! Sports and NBC Chicago.
The Bananas have also made stops at several other venues where Delaware North operates, including Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Camelback Ranch in Arizona, Truist Park in Atlanta and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. They will play at the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park in September.