Bank of America Stadium will transform into a baseball field for the Savannah Bananas
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Savannah Bananas are expected to play in front of 150,000 people over two nights at Bank of America Stadium. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
There's a baseball field inside Bank of America Stadium this week as Charlotte prepares to go bananas for the Savannah Bananas.
Why it matters: It's the first time Charlotte will host the wacky baseball team, and it's the first time there's a baseball field inside Bank of America Stadium.
State of play: The Savannah Bananas will play the Party Animals June 6-7 at Bank of America Stadium. If you're unfamiliar with Banana Ball, catch up here.
- Preparations for the Bananas began after the May 24 Charlotte FC match, Bonnie Almond, vice president of venue operations for Tepper Sports & Entertainment, tells Axios.
How it works: Stadium staff cleared the soccer lines and mapped out the baseball field ahead of the Metallica concert last weekend. On Sunday, they pulled up the concert floor, and by Monday, crews were painting the lines for the baseball field.
- Netting to protect fans from baseballs went up on Monday, too.
- Both teams will bring in bullpens for pitchers to warm up and will use the stadium's field suites as dugouts. They'll play on a turf surface.
- Home plate will be located near the tunnel where the Panthers exit before home games, which is situated in the northwest corner.
- "We're very versatile in what we can do here," Almond said.
Stunning stat: Bank of America Stadium sold out of approximately 74,000 tickets for each night in about five hours.
- The Bananas encourage people to be wary of scammers trying to sell fake tickets.
If you go: There will be a festival on the stadium's plaza near the North gate off Graham Street at 4:30pm both days. The plaza itself opens to fans at 2pm. Games start at 7pm.
- You must have a ticket to access this area. Tickets will be screened before you get to the stadium.
- Merchandise locations open to the public will be available around the stadium from 11am-1pm both days.
Dig in: There will also be special food and drinks at the stadium for the games.
- A banana pepper popper dog ($9.99) with cream cheese, roasted banana peppers, bacon bits and chipotle aioli will be available near section 120 at the Uptown Market.
- The Banana bourbon BBQ burger ($14.99) with a double beef patty, banana-bourbon BBQ sauce, crispy onions, cheddar and smoked bacon on a brioche bun will be available at the Queen City Eatery near section 122.
- The Elvis Spotted in Savannah sandwich ($17.99) with peanut butter, sliced banana, crispy bacon and a honey drizzle on griddled Texas toast will be available at the Culinary Corner on the 300-level.
- Savannah Banana Beer from Service Brewing will also be available throughout the stadium.
Local businesses are going bananas, too. Merchant and Trade, for instance, will serve a special cocktail called Banana Land ($18) June 6-7. Banana Land includes banana cream soda and Grey Goose Vodka.
- This isn't an official collaboration with the team, a Merchant and Trade spokesperson tells Axios, but rather a celebration of their stop in Charlotte.
Editor's note: This story was originally published on June 3 and updated on June 4 to reflect that banana cream soda won't be sold at the stadium.