FSU: Savannah Bananas' recent visit brought big bucks to Tallahassee – Tallahassee Democrat

The Savannah Bananas recent stop in Tallahassee at Florida State made a sizeable impact on Leon County’s economy, the university announced.
FSU Athletics said in a press release on March 24 that the Bananas’ trip to Doak Campbell Stadium “generated an estimated $10.1 million in total economic impact for Tallahassee and the surrounding region.”
The Bananas are a professional exhibition barnstorming baseball team that has captured the hearts and eyes of millions across the country. They opened their 2026 World Tour in Tallahassee Feb. 26-28, with games at Dick Howser Stadium and Doak.
Doak underwent a $265 million renovation that updated the stadium’s west side while also making it accessible for events like concerts, Banana Ball, and the recent professional bull-riding league, PBR.
“This event is exactly what we mean when we talk about using our facilities to serve Tallahassee and the broader region,” Florida State Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford said in a press release.
“Doak Campbell Stadium is a community asset, and bringing an event of this scale to our campus delivered real, measurable economic benefit while introducing new audiences to Florida State,” he added.
The multi-day event helped spike local businesses like hotels, restaurants, retail businesses, and transportation services. In an independent analysis sent as part of the press release from FSU, the university highlighted three main points:
“This is a powerful example of what can happen when Florida State and our community work together to attract major events,” Tallahassee Mayor John E. Dailey said. “The economic activity generated benefits businesses across Tallahassee and helps strengthen our local economy.”
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.

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