Reds Executive Has Message as Popular Tour Returns in 2027

The Cincinnati Reds have a long offseason ahead of them, but one summer weekend in 2027 should already be packed.

The Savannah Bananas are bringing the Banana Ball World Tour back to Great American Ball Park on July 23 and 24, and it will be the third straight year the show has stopped in Cincinnati.

The Party Animals will join the Bananas for the two games, which fall on a Friday and a Saturday.

The club announced it in a release last week, where Aaron Eisel, the Reds senior vice president of revenue, said, "The Reds are excited to welcome the Savannah Bananas back to Great American Ball Park for a third consecutive year. The energy they’ve created over the past two summers have been incredible, and we’re proud that Cincinnati continues to be a popular stop on the Banana Ball World Tour."

A ticket lottery is open through Oct. 31, and the random drawing will happen in early 2027.

The Reds expect the games to sell out, so they are pointing fans toward a season ticket membership, starting with a 14-game plan, as the best way to lock in access if they buy or renew by Nov. 6.

Cincinnati took to the Bananas right away, as they played two sold-out games at the ballpark in June 2025 and the 2026 visit grew to three games.

With more than 11 million TikTok followers behind them, a big crowd is about as safe a bet as there is.

The Reds could use a safe bet after finishing 75-87 and in last place in the National League Central, and the season ended with a loss in Toronto on Sept. 27.

Tickets are harder to sell after a year like that, which is why I think tying the Bananas to season ticket plans was a smart move by the business side of the club.

The terms changed a bit from last year, too.

The 2026 plans started at 13 games with a Dec. 5 deadline, while this time the smallest plan is 14 games and the deadline is Nov. 6, which means fans have about a month less to make up their minds.

My guess is the Bananas would sell out the building whether the Reds are good or not, so none of this fixes the real problem.

Anyone who buys a 14-game plan to chase two Bananas dates is still signing up for 14 Reds games, and they will want to see better baseball on those days.

Cincinnati has a few players who could bounce back next year, but the front office still needs to bring in real help for a roster that finished at the bottom of the division.

People have plenty of ideas on how to build a contender, and I would like to see the club treat Nov. 6 as its own deadline.

The Reds owe the fans who sign up early at least one clear move to improve the roster before next season starts, because two dates in July should not be the main reason anyone buys a ticket plan.