Historic Grayson Stadium: From 4,000 to 5,000 Seats, A Beloved Ballpark Continues to Grow
When fans walk through the gates of Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia, they are stepping into nearly a century of baseball history. Built in 1926 and rebuilt after storm damage in 1941, the stadium has hosted legends from Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron. Today, it serves as the home of the Savannah Bananas, a team that has redefined baseball entertainment with its fast-paced, fan-first approach known as Banana Ball. While the team’s antics and world tours have gained national attention, the stadium itself has quietly undergone a transformation that is just as important to the story.
The most recent renovations have pushed the ballpark’s official seating capacity to approximately 5,000 spectators, up from about 4,000 just a few years ago. That expansion may seem modest compared to the 40,000-seat cathedrals of Major League Baseball, but for a community park built nearly a century ago, it represents a careful balancing act between honoring history and embracing growth.
A Landmark Ballpark with Deep Roots
Grayson Stadium’s history is central to Savannah’s sporting identity. Originally opened in 1926, the park was rebuilt in 1941 following damage from a hurricane. Over the decades, it has hosted spring training, minor league affiliates, and countless amateur and collegiate games. The ballpark is considered one of the most historic still in active use in the United States.
For years, the stadium’s capacity hovered around 4,000, with fans filling the grandstands, bleachers, and grassy berms along the outfield. Its charm lies in its intimacy; every seat feels close to the field, and fans often remark that the energy of the crowd makes up for the lack of size.
Enter the Bananas
The Savannah Bananas arrived in 2016 and quickly became more than just another baseball team. Founded by Jesse Cole and led on the operations side by team president Jared Orton, the Bananas reinvented the fan experience with choreographed dances, circus-like entertainment, and rule changes designed to keep the game moving. The team’s popularity skyrocketed, and by the early 2020s, demand for tickets far outstripped supply. Every home game began to sell out months in advance.
That pressure created a new conversation: how could Grayson Stadium continue to provide the intimate, historic feel that made it special, while also accommodating the thousands of fans clamoring to see Banana Ball?
Renovations and Growth
The first step came during the 2023–2024 offseason, when nearly 1,000 seats were added behind the outfield. These additions expanded total capacity to about 5,000. Along with new seating, the stadium also received upgrades to restrooms, concessions, locker rooms, sound systems, and batting cages. The grandstand was repainted and refurbished with new chairbacks to improve comfort.
Ahead of the 2025 season, more changes arrived: a new all-turf playing surface, state-of-the-art LED lighting, and a high-definition video board were installed. These upgrades not only modernized the ballpark but also made it more resilient for the Bananas’ increasingly packed schedule and international tour stops.
Despite the new technology, every renovation has been made with respect for the stadium’s historic identity. The wooden beams, brick walls, and intimate sightlines remain untouched, keeping the character that longtime fans cherish.
Why Capacity Matters
At its new 5,000-seat capacity, Grayson Stadium strikes a balance between tradition and demand. For the Bananas, it means more fans can witness games in person, though tickets remain among the hardest to get in all of sports. For the city of Savannah, it means an economic boost, as more visitors pack the stands, purchase food, and explore the city around game days.
But the capacity also tells a story about priorities. The Bananas could easily draw 10,000 or more per game in a larger stadium, yet they’ve chosen to keep their home grounded in history. The smaller capacity ensures that every game feels electric, with fans packed closely together and fully engaged in the action. It preserves the stadium as not just a venue, but an experience—something irreplaceable in the age of massive arenas.
Looking Ahead
Speculation continues about whether Grayson Stadium could one day undergo another major expansion—perhaps to 10,000 or even 15,000 seats. Some fans dream of a larger stadium to match the team’s meteoric rise, while others caution that growth must be balanced against the charm and intimacy that make Banana Ball so special.
For now, though, the number is set: 5,000 fans can fill Historic Grayson Stadium on a game day, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and electric. That capacity may be small by professional sports standards, but in Savannah it feels just right.
As the Bananas take their show on the road and bring Banana Ball to bigger stadiums across the world, Grayson Stadium remains their soul. Every seat tells a story, every fan is part of the show, and with 5,000 voices cheering in unison, the ballpark continues to prove that history and growth can live side by side.