As the Savannah Bananas continue transforming baseball into one of the biggest entertainment stories in sports, they’re now taking over one of streaming’s most recognizable digital landmarks.
According to an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter, Roku is bringing the Savannah Bananas into the iconic Roku City screensaver beginning July 4, giving millions of users a chance to spot Banana Ball-themed Easter eggs while navigating their Roku devices.
The promotion coincides with Roku’s exclusive broadcast of the Savannah Bananas’ July 4 matchup against the Firefighters from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, one of five exclusive Banana Ball Championship League games Roku is streaming for free this season.
Banana Ball Heads to Roku City
Roku City has become something of a pop culture phenomenon over the past few years, with fans constantly searching the animated cityscape for hidden references to movies, TV shows, and major entertainment franchises.
Now, Savannah Bananas fans will have something new to hunt for. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Roku is recreating Grayson Stadium inside Roku City while adding several Banana Ball-inspired surprises throughout the digital skyline. The interactive experience is designed to celebrate the July 4 game while introducing even more viewers to the fast-growing baseball phenomenon.
It’s another example of Roku leaning into sports as more than just live broadcasts, using its platform to create interactive promotions around marquee events. The Roku City activation comes just months after Roku announced a major partnership with the Banana Ball Championship League.
Earlier this year, Roku secured exclusive rights to stream five Banana Ball games for free on Roku Sports Channel throughout the 2026 season. The package features not only the Savannah Bananas but also games involving the Party Animals, Firefighters, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts, and Indianapolis Clowns.
The Independence Day matchup serves as one of the centerpiece broadcasts in that schedule and gives Roku another opportunity to showcase live sports without requiring a subscription.
As fans continue to grow frustrated with the state of fragmentation in sports streaming, Savannah Bananas founder Jesse Cole doesn’t mince words about the state of sports distribution. “In the world of sports, you have to search to find out where the game is… usually it’s behind a paywall,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. That frustration is exactly why the Bananas have built their own broadcast operation — and kept it free.
Banana Ball Has Become One of Streaming’s Biggest Sports Success Stories
What started as a collegiate summer baseball team has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports entertainment brands in America. Founded by Cole in 2016, the Savannah Bananas created Banana Ball to speed up the game while making every inning feel like a live show. Games feature a two-hour time limit, trick plays, choreographed dances, fan participation, and entertainment that often resembles a cross between baseball and the Harlem Globetrotters.
That formula has produced sold-out stadiums, massive social media audiences, and an expanding lineup of national media partners. In addition to Roku, Banana Ball games now air across several major platforms, including ESPN and The CW, illustrating just how valuable the property has become for broadcasters looking to attract younger audiences.
Disney also recently expanded its relationship with the league by adding more Savannah Bananas games to its streaming lineup after Roku became the exclusive home of the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League, giving fans multiple ways to follow the sport throughout the season.
With the Bananas now appearing inside Roku City itself, the partnership is moving beyond live games and into one of streaming’s most recognizable user experiences in a sign that Banana Ball has become much more than just another baseball broadcast.