ORANGE SLICES
By Laurie Paolicelli
Guest Columnist
The Savannah Bananas take on the Texas Tailgaters. Is everything bigger in Texas?
Get Ready for Yellow, and We Don’t Mean Pollen
When the Town That Thinks Different Meets the Team That Plays Different, Something Beautiful Happens
The Savannah Bananas are coming to Kenan Stadium this weekend—and it’s safe to say Orange County doesn’t typically see events quite like this.
Two games. Both sold out. More than 50,000 fans each day.
For a baseball game… not tied to the North Carolina Tar Heels.
And thousands of people wearing Banana yellow instead of Carolina Blue.
It made many of us pause and think: huh?
But times are changing—and tourism-driven events like this are reshaping how economic development shows up in our community.
Savannah Bananas Huddle
This Didn’t Happen by Accident
When Rick Barakat was challenged to bring high-profile events to Chapel Hill, he didn’t just respond—he delivered. A UNC graduate (’96), Barakat now serves as Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, appointed in March 2025 to lead revenue generation and strategic growth. With more than 25 years of experience in collegiate sports media and sales—including executive roles at Diamond Baseball Holdings and Learfield—he brought both vision and relationships to the table.
Through his connection with Jesse Cole, one of the most sought-after entertainment experiences in the country found its way to Kenan Stadium.
Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, which includes not only the Savannah Bananas, but also the Party Animals, Firefighters, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts, and Indianapolis Clowns.
With the mantra “Fans First. Entertain Always,” the Bananas are on a mission to make baseball fun by creating what they call the “Greatest Show in Sports.” The team has sold out every game since their inaugural season in Savannah and now maintains a ticket waitlist of millions of fans from around the world.
Many college towns were competing. Chapel Hill won.
Will the Texas Tailgaters beat the Savannah Bananas?
The Spirit Behind the Show
And what makes this event even more compelling isn’t just the show—it’s the spirit behind it.
The Savannah Bananas are built on a simple but powerful idea: fans first, fun always, and give back whenever possible. Through their nonprofit, Banana Fosters, they support children in the foster care system—a cause deeply personal to Jesse Cole. They also lead by example in inclusion, creating employment opportunities for individuals with special needs and embracing neurodiversity across their staff and volunteer base.
Even the “rules” of the game reflect their mission—less about tradition, more about connection:
- Games are fast, engaging, and built for fans of all ages
- Players interact directly with the crowd—dancing, laughing, and breaking barriers
- Entertainment is constant, making everyone feel part of the experience
It’s baseball, yes—but it’s also community-building in motion.
These stilts are made for walking.
The Economic Case
It’s too early to calculate exact economic impact—we’ll wait for post-event ZIP code analysis—but we have a strong indicator. When the Bananas played at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, the event generated more than $10 million in economic impact, with roughly half of attendees traveling from more than 50 miles away.
That’s what this weekend represents: Not just a game—but a shift.
A shift toward major events as economic drivers. A shift toward regional and national visibility. And a reminder that Chapel Hill can compete—and win—on a much bigger stage.
Spread peace love and laughter the banana way.
No Ticket? You Can Still Be Part of It
If you don’t have a ticket—you can still be part of it.
Head downtown to the Welcome Center at 308 West Franklin Street on Saturday and Sunday for selfies with mascots, banana-themed candy, and fun giveaways. The games will also livestream on the Bananas’ YouTube channel, so you won’t miss a moment.
https://www.youtube.com/@
Downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro are joining the celebration with welcoming flags along Franklin Street, and Volunteer Ambassadors will be out and about distributing brochures, buttons, and plenty of Banana spirit.
Because this weekend isn’t just happening inside the stadium—it’s happening all across our community.
Chapel Hill has always been a place that dares to re-imagine what’s possible—a college town that punches above its weight in ideas, innovation, and community. The Savannah Bananas are cut from the same cloth: a scrappy, creative enterprise that looked at a century-old sport and asked, what if we made it something everyone belongs to? What if the stands mattered as much as the field? What if a baseball team could make a child in foster care feel seen, make a family laugh until it hurts, and make a whole city feel like it’s in on something special? That’s not just entertainment. That’s imagination with a purpose.
Check out local deals: https://www.visitchapelhill.
Share your thoughts with me here, Laurie Paolicelli
Disclaimer: Published by Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Public Relations team, this story includes interviews and repurposed content from websites and partner press releases. For more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie Paolicelli.
Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This reporter can be reached at Information@TheLocalReporter.press
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