Unconventional Ball Game: The Savannah Bananas' Fun-Filled Transformation
Preparing Finances for the 2025 Savannah Bananas Season
Ever heard of the Savannah Bananas? They're not just any regular baseball team! This quirky, family-friendly squad has shaken up the minor league world with their unique gameplay and record-breaking success. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the team's finance empire.
Tim Naddy
Vice president of finance, Savannah Bananas
Past Employers: Deloitte, PwC, Endurance Business Media
Meet the Brain Behind the Bananas' Budget
Adam Zaki: Congrats on another smashing season! How did the Bananas' finance team keep up?
Tim Naddy: First and foremost, we cross-trained our team to cover both diamond (baseball) and dugout (non-baseball) facets of our business. This way, we can analyze our core components independently. The expansion, brands like Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters - it's all part of the diamond's potential. As we grow, the dugout will follow suit. Keepin' it lean and mean, that's our game plan!
The Challenges Ahead
Data Management and Scaling Up
NADDY: With multiple new teams joining our league, we're taking on new challenges like withholding taxes, managing multiple venues, lease agreements, and utilities. We've got our eyes on creating a centralized operation to avoid geographical scaling when we add new teams.
Ensuring Data Accessibility and Accuracy
To manage multiple moving parts, we use proprietary software for ticketing and inventory management, combining ShipBob with Shopify. We also outsource logistics to experts like Clark Transfer for seamless load and unload operations.
Key Takeaways from the Pros
NADDY: I've sought mentorship from Rob Gerbe, the finance guru behind the United Football League. His model is where we're heading, focusing on large venue control, data analysis, and strategic scheduling. Collaborating with experts is the way to go!
Life After the ERP Change
With a move from QuickBooks to NetSuite, Naddy warns other finance pros about the rollercoaster ride. Brace yourself for additional add-ons and partnerships, and consider hiring a NetSuite consultant or implementation expert to avoid pain points.
On the bright side, the Bananas learned to keep their proprietary system for data visibility and only load transactions into NetSuite monthly.
The Power of Teaching
NADDY: Developing strong communication skills is essential for finance leaders. I recommend teaching accounting in colleges to boost your interpersonal skills, learn self-deprecation, and become a more approachable leader. Trust me, you never know, you might end up on a yacht party one day!
Fan-First Finance: The Savannah Bananas' Secret Sauce
The Savannah Bananas are known for revolutionizing the fan experience, with strategies like allowing fans to name the team, offering all-you-can-eat tickets, and attracting wider audiences with unique formats like "Banana Ball." While "diamond and dugout approach" to finance isn't mentioned in the available data, it's clear the team prioritizes long-term growth and fan satisfaction over short-term profits. Here's to another record-breaking year for the Savannah Bananas!
- Tim Naddy, vice president of finance for the Savannah Bananas, embraces a lean and mean approach to analyze both the baseball and non-baseball aspects of their business, including the expansion of brands like Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters, and Firefighters.
- As the Savannah Bananas expand and add new teams, they face challenges such as managing taxes, multiple venues, lease agreements, and utilities, aiming to create a centralized operation to avoid geographical scaling.
- To manage multiple moving parts, the team uses proprietary software for ticketing and inventory management, combines ShipBob with Shopify, and outsources logistics to experts like Clark Transfer for seamless load and unload operations.
- In seeking guidance from industry experts, Tim Naddy has looked to Rob Gerbe, the finance guru behind the United Football League, for insights on large venue control, data analysis, and strategic scheduling.
- In addition to transforming the minor league world with unconventional gameplay, the Savannah Bananas prioritize long-term growth and fan satisfaction over short-term profits, exemplifying their fan-first finance approach, which can be seen in strategies like allowing fans to name the team, offering all-you-can-eat tickets, and attracting wider audiences with unique formats like "Banana Ball."
