The city of Birmingham is going to get its first taste of Banana Ball in 2026 after the announcement of the schedule for the Savannah Bananas included both Montgomery and Birmingham in 2026.

The six-team league known as Banana Ball includes two new teams, as the Indianapolis Clowns and the Loco Beach Coconuts join up with the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters, and Firefighters.

On March 21 and March 22, the Firefighters are going to take on the Clowns at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery. In September at historic Rickwood Field on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, the Clowns and Coconuts will face off.

“We had the Bananas here in 2022 and 2023 when they were really just getting started,” said Gerald Watkins, the president of Friends of Rickwood Field, via WRBC News, talking about how much impact that MLB game at Rickwood had. “I think that even Mayor Woodfin said that the MLB game was the best thing that ever happened to Birmingham. We had people here from all over the country who saw what a great place we have to live. They liked our restaurants, they liked the friendliness of the people.”

Banana Ball making a return to Birmingham is just another step in the $5 million renovation to Rickwood Field two years ago in preparation for the MLB’s Juneteenth East-West Classic game in 2024.

Rickwood continues to host more and more big-time events, and the ever-growing Banana Ball coming to Birmingham should bring tourists and residents alike out to see one of the hottest tickets in entertainment right now.