PHOTO COURTESY SAVANNAH BANANAS

PNC Park will be packed with fans this Friday and Saturday night — even though the Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road. For the first time, the popular independent team known as the Savannah Bananas will play in Pittsburgh, with games against their in-house rivals, the Texax Tailgaters.

If you’re not among the millions of fans the barnstorming team has amassed on social media, here’s a quick word on what to expect — and how to plan for a busy weekend on the North Shore.

Who are the Savannah Bananas?
Once a collegiate-level team based in Savannah, Georgia, the Bananas started functioning as an independent team in 2022 after going viral for their inventive, entertaining in-stadium presentation. They recruit and pay their own players, as well as the players on their opposing teams. Since then, they’ve developed their own rules — dubbed “banana ball” — and played with a focus on entertainment, adding theatrical elements, fan interaction, special guests and more to each game.

Who are the players?
The team offers contracts to players who’ve made a splash in the collegiate and early-professional ranks, often picking those who’ve demonstrated charisma and social-media savvy — as well as dance moves. A pair of local players, Butler’s Alex Ziegler and Aliquippa’s Ryan Cox, are on the Bananas roster. The team is also known for bringing out surprise guests — often including local notables — for each game, so expect some famous faces.

What’s different about banana ball?
Plenty — but it’s all focused on making the game fast and fun. Games can’t go longer than two hours, and scoring occurs by inning; the team that scores more runs in a given inning is given one point, except for the final inning, when all runs count. Batters aren’t allowed to leave the batter’s box (that’s an automatic strike) or attempt to bunt (an instant ejection). There are no mound visits. There are walks, but it’s not a leisurely free base; when a fourth ball is called, the batter begins running, and can continue to claim bases until the defending team passes the ball to every player. Most importantly to fans, be on the lookout for foul balls; if a foul ball is cleanly caught by a fan, it counts as a real out in the game.

How do I get tickets?
If you don’t already have them, you probably can’t. A ticket lottery began months ago; winning fans were informed via email and bought tickets at face value. Both games sold out swiftly. The team cautions against buying tickets on the secondary market, warning that only tickets bought through the team can be guaranteed to be legitimate; still, there are some tickets available through resellers (and most services, including StubHub, will fully refund you if your tickets turn out to be fraudulent). Even if you luck out, you’ll be paying a hefty price; as of press time, tickets started at $101 for Friday and $200 for Saturday.

When should I get there?
Early. The team is known for its all-day celebrations, with plenty of fan interaction, as much as they’re known for the action on the field. Festivities begin on Federal Street and the Roberto Clemente Bridge at 2 p.m. both days, starting with player meet-and-greets, a pre-game show and much more — including your opportunity to score coveted Bananas merch. Gates open each day at 4:30, and there’s plenty to see before the 7 p.m. first pitch, including boisterous batting-practice sessions.

OK — how should I get there?
If possible, via the T or on foot. A massive traffic snarl is expected on the North Shore for the sold-out contests. If you don’t have pre-paid parking, consider a park-and-ride location for the T, or park at a Downtown garage and walk over. As big as the crowds will be, they’re still less sizable than a Pittsburgh Steelers gameday crowd; if you’ve ever navigated your way to Acrisure Stadium for football (or Taylor Swift), just do what you did then.

What if I don’t have tickets?
You can catch the fun on YouTube — and start following the Bananas on social media for updates on future area appearances.