The Savannah Bananas have detailed their process for selecting ticket lottery winners, aiming to provide clarity amidst overwhelming demand that has placed more than four million fans on their waitlist. The team's Head of Ticket Experience, Steven Wilde, explained that the selection is managed by a computer algorithm, with significant measures in place to ensure fairness.
Third-party verification software screens entries to identify and remove fraudulent activity, such as burner emails, duplicate accounts, and bot networks, which could be used by ticket scalpers. This vetting process aims to prevent artificial inflation of odds before the random draw occurs.
Once entries are verified, the organization faces the challenge of managing conversion rates and average ticket purchases to determine the number of purchase links to send without exceeding stadium capacity. This approach is likened to an airline's process for managing overbookings.
To streamline the purchasing experience for winners, the Bananas often direct them to select broader ticket zones, such as an outfield section or lower bowl, rather than allowing individual seat selection. Wilde stated this simplification is intentional to prevent decision paralysis and speed up checkout times.
Purchasing opportunities are distributed through Fans First Tickets, the team's in-house ticketing platform. This proprietary system was acquired to avoid third-party vendor fees and maintain control over the fan experience.
Founded in 2016 by owner Jesse Cole, the Savannah Bananas originated as a collegiate summer league team. They have since evolved into a touring exhibition team, often referred to as baseball's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. The team plays a modified version of baseball called 'Banana Ball,' which includes a two-hour time limit, a prohibition on bunting, the allowance of batters stealing first base, and foul balls caught by fans counting as outs. Their games are characterized by high-energy entertainment, including choreographed dances, players on stilts, and trick pitching, contributing to their significant popularity and sold-out tours in Major League Baseball stadiums.