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If you've ever gone to a minor league baseball game, you know it’s quite different than going to a MLB game.
But minor league games have nothing on the Savannah Bananas of the Coastal Plain League. Founded in 2016 with the motto “Making Baseball Fun,” they’ve sold out every game since their first season and have a waiting list thousands of names long.
Part of their success can be attributed to their performance on the field, as well as some of their general gimmicks—like a breakdancing first base coach, their 65+ dance troupe (called the Banana Nanas, of course), and an “official bat dog” (she’s a puppy named Daisy. I know). Even their name is a bit of a gimmick.
But the true secret to their success? Team founder Jesse Cole asked himself, “What rules make baseball less fun?” And then he changed those rules.
Games run no longer than two hours. Bunting is forbidden. Walks were replaced by “sprints” where players can earn extra bases. And if a fan catches a foul ball in the stands? That’s an out.
Each rule change is informed by a singular question. Would changing this rule make baseball more fun?
Professionally, whenever you break the “rules,” it can be scary. You feel like if you put in the effort to try something “daring” and it fails, it’ll reflect poorly on you, and you’ll find yourself scrambling to recover any lost momentum.
But look at the Savannah Bananas. They’ve made drastic changes to 150-year-old rules of America’s pastime and are thriving.
While not every change worked (Cole’s attempt to break tie games with a one-on-one at bat on an empty field proved to be a bit of a disaster), their embracing of a clear north star—in this case, making baseball more fun—helped the Savannah Bananas transform an empty stadium into a whimsical destination.
Don’t be afraid to break the rules, or try things that don’t feel “safe” in pursuit of what’s important to you or your company. Not every radical change will work, and that’s okay! If you’re not failing, you’re not growing. While you might not always hit a home run, you can at least aspire to have a little fun.
~Jeff, and the Team at Clique Studios
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