The Banana Ball World Tour is scheduled to return to Jacksonville's VyStar Ballpark for two games in its unconventional brand of baseball, matching the Party Animals and the Loco Beach Coconuts on March 5 and 6, 2027.
Fans can sign up for a lottery to purchase tickets until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31, using the website www.bananaball.com/tickets.
Banana Ball brings an offbeat flavor and a unique set of rules to the ballpark, including a two-hour time limit and automatic outs when fans catch a foul ball.
In 2026, Banana Ball visited Jacksonville for a three-game series between July 2-4, matching the Loco Beach Coconuts against the Indianapolis Clowns.
What other sports events are scheduled in Jacksonville during the Banana Ball week?
The timing for the 2027 series makes an already-hectic Jacksonville sports week even wilder.
The first
week of March will include the Gate River Run on March 6, the city's annual 15-kilometer race that is expected to draw especially large crowds for its 50th edition; the ASUN men's and women's college basketball tournaments at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena; and the Florida High School Athletic Association boys and girls basketball championships at the University of North Florida's UNF Arena.
The following week will bring The Players Championship golf to the First Coast.
What are some of the special Banana Ball rules?
Fans can make outs: If a spectator in the crowd catches a foul ball, it's an out.
Batters can steal first base: If a pitcher throws a wild pitch, or if there is a passed ball, a batter can take first.
No walks: On Ball 4, the batter runs to first and can advance to as many bases as possible while the catcher has to throw the ball to every position player before the batter can be tagged out.
Each inning is worth one point: Whichever team wins the inning gets that point until the final inning.
Two-hour time limit: No inning can start after one hour and 50 minutes unless the game is tied.
No stepping out: If a batter steps out of the batter's box, it's a strike.
Showdown tiebreaker: If the game is tied after nine innings or two hours, a tiebreaker showdown takes place with only the pitcher, batter and one fielder.
No mound visits: Pitchers are left to their own devices to dig themselves out of a hole. No mound visits are allowed from the coach, catcher or any other player during the game.
No bunting ... ever: Batters who bunt are immediately ejected from the game.
Challenges: The coach of each team holding onto a challenge prop can throw or shoot it onto the field before the next pitch. Each team only gets one challenge unless the play in question is overturned by the umpiring crew, in which case the challenge is retained.
Golden batter rule: Either team can send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot once a game, including toward the end when the game is on the line.
Source: USA TODAY Network/Cincinnati Enquirer
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Banana Ball returning to Jacksonville for two games in March 2027
