In recent years, head coach Mike Norvell has failed to put up results on the field. The HC currently sits on a 38-34 record. The program is also bearing his $5.4 million annual salary after restructuring and an NIL budget north of $16 million to no avail. The expenses become concerning, especially when they come in the backdrop of the athletic department’s $437 million debt. To offset some of it, FSU is now following Clemson’s footsteps to make off-seasons financially productive.

According to reports, preparations are now underway at Doak Campbell Stadium to host the 2026 season’s Banana Ball. The country-wide popular baseball league will start its 2026 World Tour at FSU’s Dick Howser Stadium on February 26 and February 27, before moving to Doak Campbell Stadium for its weekend grand finale. Fans have already sold out the game’s tickets, and the program’s AD has expressed excitement about the baseball game.

“I’m extremely excited that the Savannah Bananas are coming to Tallahassee,” FSU AD Michael Alford said about the February 28 game. “This is significant because it will be the first non-football event in the refurbished Doak Campbell Stadium, putting one of America’s top entertainment brands into one of the nation’s most famous venues. We’re thrilled to be chosen as the site of the Bananas’ season opener and excited to bring a family-friendly event to Florida State and Tallahassee.”

The Savannah Bananas league, often described by fans as the “Harlem Globetrotters of baseball,” is a nuanced version of the sport with altered rules. In recent years, the league has become extremely popular amongst fans, and its marquee games even feature players performing choreographed performances. Additionally, the league’s YouTube channel has over 2.4 million subscribers, where the teams livestream all their games for free.

Programs like Florida State are just riding the popularity wave of the baseball league and hoping to reap financial rewards. Earlier in 2025, Clemson allowed the Savannah Bananas to use their football stadium on a revenue-sharing deal. The program had to cover expenses like fire support, security, and other operational costs. Despite that, Clemson managed to make a $250,000 profit from the game.

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In return for offering free stadium use to the Savannah Bananas, the program kept the gameday revenue from alcohol and luxury suite ticket sales. More than 81,000 people flocked to the game, and Clemson generated a six-figure profit. FSU, on February 28, wants to do the same at the 67,277-seater Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. If it generates the required revenue, FSU can eventually host several more games to churn out additional revenue.

Florida State Athletic Director opens up on the program’s more than half a billion dollar debt

Florida State is currently in a big rut. The program’s report from the 2025 financial year mentions a sharp $200 million increase in program debt, and FSU’s total institutional debt stands at $617 million. In total, Florida State’s athletic department’s deficit has risen by around 1,580% from just $26 million in the 2020 financial year. A major chunk of that debt is, of course, the renovations carried out at the Doak Campbell Stadium, costing the program $265 million.

“Florida State football stands at a defining moment,” AD Michael Alford said to boosters in an email. “For a program with our history, expectations, and resources, anything short of competing at the highest level is unacceptable, and we take seriously the responsibility that comes with representing Florida State. We owe it to our supporters to clarify our direction and ensure that they understand the rationale behind ongoing structural and financial decisions.”

Apart from the stadium renovations, FSU has constructed a new football operations center. It has cost the program a whopping $138 million. All of this hasn’t stopped FSU’s net spending, and the program’s expenditure rose to $208.2 million in 2025. Additionally, FSU’s subpar seasons after 2023 have dried up donations, ticket sales, and even booster support. Hosting the Banana Ball games seems like a last-ditch attempt to squeeze out revenue. How far it will benefit the program remains to be seen.