By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — Baseball’s traveling spectacle is headed to two New England ballparks in 2027, bringing its two-hour games, unconventional rules and on-field entertainment to Worcester and Portland. But fans hoping to get inside will have to act months before the first pitch.
Banana Ball will make its Polar Park debut in Worcester on Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, 2027, with the Firefighters facing the Texas Tailgaters. The Tailgaters enter the matchup as the inaugural Banana Bowl champions after defeating the Savannah Bananas 2–1 on October 10, 2026, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
The show then heads to Portland, Maine, where the Indianapolis Clowns will face the Loco Beach Coconuts at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field on Friday, August 20, and Saturday, August 21, 2027. The Portland stop marks a return for Banana Ball, which appeared there in 2023 and again in 2026.
For both cities, the first challenge is getting tickets. Fans must enter the lottery at bananaball.com by October 31, 2026. The Worcester announcement specifies an 11:59 p.m. deadline. A random drawing will determine which applicants receive an email from Banana Ball with instructions to purchase available seats. Entering the lottery does not guarantee a ticket.
Standard tickets start at $35 for both locations. Worcester Meet & Greet tickets start at $125, while group and hospitality information is available through polarpark.com. Individual game tickets are sold exclusively through Banana Ball’s official ticketing operation, not through unofficial resale solicitations.
For Portland, tickets are expected to go on sale approximately two months before the games to fans selected in the lottery. Portland Sea Dogs season members who have renewed or purchased memberships for 2027 will also receive an exclusive presale opportunity.
Banana Ball is not traditional baseball with a few added stunts. Its rules impose a strict two-hour limit, eliminate bunting, walks and mound visits, and award points by inning rather than simply counting the final total of runs. Fans can even record an out by catching a foul ball in the stands. Teams also have a golden batter option, while tied games can be decided through a one-on-one showdown.
The format began as an experiment by the Savannah Bananas in November 2018, with the first official Banana Ball game played in June 2020. The six-team Banana Ball Championship League launched in 2026, featuring the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Firefighters, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns.
The Firefighters arrive in a fire truck and make firefighting imagery part of their performance. The team debuted in 2024 and is led by former firefighter Valerie Perez. The Texas Tailgaters, who debuted in 2025, build their identity around country music, line dancing and a ballpark tailgate atmosphere.
The league reported more than three million fans attending its 190 games across 75 stadiums and ballparks in 45 states during 2026. Its social media audience exceeds 35 million followers, and games are available through free YouTube streams as well as ESPN and Disney+ coverage.
The Worcester and Portland dates give New England fans four opportunities to see the entertainment-driven game in person next summer. For anyone hoping to attend, however, the critical date comes first: the ticket lottery closes October 31.