Louisiana Chef cooks up the right recipe for tickets to upcoming Bananas game

New Orleans chef creates specialty "banana pizzas" to win tickets to sold-out Savannah Bananas games at the Caesars Superdome

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:48am

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A Louisiana chef has cooked up the right recipe for tickets to the upcoming Savannah Bananas baseball games in New Orleans. Phil Mariano, the executive chef at Pizza Domenica in New Orleans, created specialty "banana pizzas" and posted videos of them on social media, leading the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation to acquire tickets on his behalf for the sold-out Bananas games at the Caesars Superdome on March 14-15, 2026.

Why it matters

The Savannah Bananas have developed a cult following for their unique brand of baseball entertainment, and their upcoming series in New Orleans is highly anticipated. This story highlights how far some fans will go to secure tickets to see the Bananas play, even creating specialty food items to win the chance.

The details

Mariano's "banana pizzas" are a play on the Hawaiian pizza, featuring bananas as a topping. He posted several videos of the pizzas on social media, which led the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation to acquire tickets on his behalf for the sold-out Bananas games. Mariano has been following the Bananas for a few years and was hoping to see them play when they were nearby in Baton Rouge last year, but couldn't make the trip. Now that they're coming to New Orleans, he's excited to finally get the chance to see them in person.

  • The Savannah Bananas will play at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on March 14-15, 2026.
  • The Bananas will then travel to San Diego to play at Petco Park on March 21-22, 2026.

The players

Phil Mariano

The executive chef at Pizza Domenica in New Orleans who created specialty "banana pizzas" to win tickets to see the Savannah Bananas play.

Savannah Bananas

A professional baseball team known for their unique brand of entertainment and fan engagement.

Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation

The organization that acquired tickets on behalf of Phil Mariano to see the Savannah Bananas play in New Orleans.

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What they’re saying

“The pizzas are a play on the Hawaiian pizza with bananas on it. I know it seems pretty weird to me, but it's actually really tasty.”

— Phil Mariano, Executive Chef, Pizza Domenica (WGNO)

“At Pizza Domenica, we're always looking for something fun and exciting to do with our pizzas, and having the Savannah Bananas coming to town seemed like the perfect opportunity to try something fun and come up with some new creative pizzas.”

— Phil Mariano, Executive Chef, Pizza Domenica (WGNO)

“I've been following them for two or three years and have been trying to get tickets. When they were nearby in Baton Rouge last year, I couldn't make the trip, but now that they're coming to New Orleans, I'm really hoping to get to see them.”

— Phil Mariano, Executive Chef, Pizza Domenica (WGNO)

What’s next

Following the journey to New Orleans, the Savannah Bananas will play next week in San Diego, on March 21 & 22 at Petco Park, the home of Major League Baseball's Padres.

The takeaway

The Savannah Bananas' unique brand of baseball entertainment has developed a passionate fan base, with some fans going to great lengths to secure tickets to see the team play. This story highlights the creativity and dedication of one New Orleans chef who created specialty pizzas to win the chance to attend the sold-out Bananas games in his hometown.