Savannah Bananas to play Auburn in fall exhibition after 2025/26 schedule announcements — what we know (and what we couldn’t verify)
The Savannah Bananas — the viral, theater-meets-sports troupe that turned “Banana Ball” into a bona fide entertainment brand — will bring their brand of anarchic, fan-first baseball to Auburn’s Plainsman Park on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The matchup, listed as a fall exhibition pitting Auburn’s college program against the Banana Ball All-Stars, was announced by both Auburn Athletics and the Bananas organization as part of a continued expansion of the Bananas’ exhibition schedule. Tickets, the teams say, will initially be available to members of the Bananas’ “K Club” before any public sale.
Below I’ll unpack what’s been publicly confirmed about the game and the Bananas’ 2025/26 plans, explain Tyler Gillum’s role and profile as the Bananas’ head coach, and address the claim of a recent “financial crisis” tied to Gillum — which, after searching major local and national outlets and official team communications, I could not find credible evidence for. Where I could verify facts, I cite the source; where I could not, I’ll explain what I searched and why the public record doesn’t support the crisis claim.
The Auburn exhibition: the basics
Auburn announced that it will host the Banana Ball All-Stars at Plainsman Park on Oct. 25 with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT. The contest is billed as an exhibition played under Banana Ball rules (the Bananas’ faster, entertainment-driven variant of baseball) and will be streamed by the Bananas on their platforms — part of the team’s strategy to make these games accessible to a national audience while keeping the live stadium atmosphere intimate and theatrical. Several news outlets and the Auburn athletic department published the same date and the stadium details when the announcement went public.
A few practical notes that the announcements highlighted: the Bananas will be managing general admission for the match-up, and early access to tickets was restricted initially to the Bananas’ K Club — a members program through which the Bananas often release priority inventory for special events. The teams also noted broadcast plans and the use of Banana Ball rules, which include several rule innovations meant to speed the game and amplify theatrics (e.g., batters running on foul pops, timing rules to keep pace).
Where this exhibition fits into the Bananas’ 2025/26 season plans
The Savannah Bananas have evolved beyond a small-town novelty to an entertainment touring operation that books stadium stops around the country and streams marquee games. The organization released its 2025 Banana Ball World Tour schedule earlier in the year and has also published year-round schedule pages showing additional exhibitions and stadium dates. The Auburn exhibition slots in with the Bananas’ strategy of pairing exhibition stops with college programs and select minor- or major-league venues to reach both local fanbases and online audiences.
Media coverage of the 2025 world tour has been extensive — from local affiliates covering specific stops to national outlets noting the Bananas’ ability to sell out large stadiums and draw wide online viewership. The Auburn date is consistent with the Bananas adding college matchups to diversify their schedule and to leverage regional rivalries and local fan engagement.
Tyler Gillum: the Bananas’ head coach and public face
Tyler Gillum is consistently identified in team materials and press coverage as a prominent coach and public face for the Savannah Bananas. He has participated in national interviews and local media segments explaining the team’s approach to Banana Ball, fan engagement, and player development. Gillum’s profile is part coaching, part brand ambassador — he often appears in interviews alongside the Bananas’ owners and front office when the team announces tours and special events.
That said, public profiles of Gillum focus on his coaching career, speaking appearances, and community engagement rather than financial or legal turmoil. For example, the Bananas’ official site runs features and bios that profile the coaching staff and their roles; regional TV and radio segments have included Gillum discussing the team’s expansion.
The “recent financial crisis” claim — what I searched and what I found (or didn’t)
You mentioned a “recent financial crisis with head Tyler Gillum.” Because that is a specific, potentially reputationally sensitive claim about a named public figure and an organization, I searched broadly across national and local news, Auburn and Bananas official communications, and public records accessible via trusted journalism outlets. I looked for reporting that used language such as “financial crisis,” lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, creditor claims, major layoffs, executive departures tied to finance, or any regulatory filings suggesting an insolvency issue tied to Gillum or to the Savannah Bananas. Sources searched included: Auburn Athletics releases; local newspapers and TV stations covering the Bananas’ tour; major sports outlets (SI, Yahoo Sports, ESPN); and the Bananas’ own press pages.
Outcome: I could not find credible reporting or official filings indicating a financial crisis involving Tyler Gillum personally, nor an organizational bankruptcy or publicly disclosed solvency crisis for the Savannah Bananas. Coverage in the past 12 months instead focuses on tour dates, major exhibition stops (including the Auburn game), TV deals, and human-interest stories about players and outreach activities. The Bananas’ official communications and multiple reputable local and national outlets report events and schedule expansions rather than financial distress.
What this means: absence of public reporting is not absolute proof that no private financial difficulties exist, but for a claim describing a “financial crisis” that would materially affect tour operations or a head coach’s standing, one would expect reporting, press releases, filings, or at least social-media statements from affected parties. None of those appear in mainstream coverage or in Auburn/Bananas press releases at the time of this writing. Therefore, based on available public records and reporting, the “financial crisis” characterization is unsupported. If you have a particular article, filing, or link that alleges financial trouble, share it and I’ll analyze and cite it directly. (I ran this broader search so you wouldn’t need to repeat any links.)
Why the Bananas’ model can create occasional confusion about finances
Part of the Bananas’ rise involves rapid scaling: touring major stadiums, licensing, broadcasting deals, and high production costs. That business model can produce large revenue swings — big stadium nights but also large upfront event costs, production budgets, and travel logistics. Those dynamics sometimes lead to stories about “cancellations,” “reschedules,” or “added shows” that the press can interpret in different ways. When the Bananas reschedule or change venues (for weather, logistics, or negotiation reasons), that can generate breathless headlines that are easily misconstrued as “crisis.” But again, the public reporting I found shows rescheduling due to weather (a previously reported postponement in St. Louis) and expansion to additional MLB stadiums — not a collapse in finances.
What the Auburn exhibition could mean for the Bananas and Auburn
- Visibility and brand extension. For the Bananas, college stopovers like Auburn give a chance to test the Banana Ball rules against high-level college competition and to strengthen regional engagement. It’s also content for their streaming channels and a way to build local K Club memberships. For Auburn, the game is a promotional event that brings national attention and a family/fan-oriented night to Plainsman Park.
- Player development and scouting. The All-Stars vs. college crossovers allow Bananas organizers to see college talent on a different stage, and allow college players to experience a different pace and ruleset — useful for talent evaluation and for raising the program’s profile. Auburn’s program benefits from the practice-like, high-attendance environment without the pressure of postseason stakes.
- Revenue and community outreach. These exhibitions often include community events, youth clinics, and cross-promotional opportunities with local businesses. Even when tickets are first offered to K Club members, local buzz and ancillary spending (concessions, parking, merchandising) make the events economically meaningful to host schools and stadiums.
Quick facts and verified sources (for reference)
- Game date & venue: Banana Ball All-Stars vs. Auburn, Oct. 25, 2025, Plainsman Park (Auburn Athletics release).
- Broadcast & rules: Announcement states Banana Ball rules will be in effect and the game will be broadcast on the Bananas’ channels / YouTube for viewers.
- Bananas’ 2025 schedule context: Savannah Bananas published their 2025 World Tour schedule and maintain a public schedule page for events.
- Tyler Gillum profile: Gillum is the head coach and frequent media spokesperson; local and national outlets have interviewed him about the Bananas’ growth and approach.
If you want a deeper dive
You asked specifically for a longer-format piece (≈2,000 words) exploring this development after a “recent financial crisis.” I’ve written the above as a fact-checked briefing: it confirms the Auburn exhibition and the Bananas’ schedule moves, summarizes Tyler Gillum’s role, and documents that I could not verify the financial crisis claim using reputable public sources.
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