He Was $1M in Debt… Now 5 Million People Want His Tickets | Jesse Cole

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Jesse Cole built one of the most unconventional sports empires in America: the Savannah Bananas.

But before selling out massive stadiums, he and his wife were $1 million in debt, had sold just TWO tickets, and were running out of money.

They sold their house, emptied their savings, and slept on an air mattress just to keep their dream alive.

Then Jesse made a decision that would change everything: stop trying to save traditional baseball and create an experience nobody had ever seen.

Today, Banana Ball has six teams, a ticket waitlist of more than 5 million people, and a business Jesse says has been valued at $1 billion.

In this episode, Jesse reveals how he turned failure into a sports phenomenon, why he refuses to sell his company, and the relentless obsession behind creating fans.


00:00 Intro
01:00 Jesse Cole's Journey and Early Financial Struggles
04:22 Lessons from Walt Disney and Customer Experience
06:48 Reinventing Baseball Through Entertainment and Innovation
10:06 Banana Ball's Business Model and Fans First Philosophy
13:23 Ticket Pricing, Fan Loyalty, and MLB Relationships
15:51 Stadium Expansion and the Vision for One Billion Fans
19:36 Constant Innovation and Hands On Leadership
23:40 Creating Unforgettable Fan Experiences and Player Opportunities
27:39 Scaling the Business, Maintaining Culture, and Working with Family
32:12 Creativity, Mentorship, and Lessons from His Father
35:59 Private Equity and the Problems with Youth Sports
38:40 Baseball Favorites and Measuring Fan Engagement
41:45 Life Lessons, Giving Back, and Legacy


Follow Jesse Cole:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowtuxjesse/
Website: https://findyouryellowtux.com/

Follow the Savannah Bananas:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesavbananas/
Website: https://thesavannahbananas.com/

Learn More About Banana Ball:
https://bananaball.com/

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