Shure and Savannah Bananas Redefine the Sound of Sports Broadcasting

NILES, Ill. – May 21, 2026 – In a move set to transform how fans experience live sports from home, audio technology leader Shure has been named the Official Audio Provider of the Savannah Bananas. The partnership centers on the deployment of Shure's groundbreaking DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array, a technology designed to capture the intricate sounds of the game with unprecedented clarity and depth, bringing the wild energy of “Banana Ball” to a global broadcast audience.

For the Savannah Bananas, a team that has become a cultural phenomenon through its high-energy, fan-first version of baseball, the challenge has always been translating its sold-out stadium atmosphere to screens around the world. With millions on their ticket waitlist, the broadcast has become the primary way for a global fanbase to experience the show.

"With the Savannah Bananas, the show is go, go, go all the time. There's music playing constantly, fans cheering, and baseball happening on the field all at the same time," said Nicholas Keldie, Broadcast Engineer for Savannah Bananas. "Not everybody can get tickets for this event, so translating that experience to the broadcast is really important."

The Sonic Revolution in Sports Broadcasting

At the heart of this audio evolution is the Shure DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array. This is not just another microphone; it represents a fundamental shift in how live audio is captured. The DCA901 is a digital array integrating 78 internal microphones that, through a single network cable, deliver eight isolated, high-fidelity audio channels. Its defining feature is the use of digitally steerable lobes, which allow broadcast engineers to remotely and precisely aim audio capture zones anywhere on the field. This replaces the cumbersome and complex traditional method of deploying dozens of individual microphones and running extensive cabling.

This technology enables the production team to capture sounds that were previously lost in the noise. "With the Shure DCA901, we're now able to capture audio that we've never been able to capture before," said Matthew Webster, Head of Technology for the Savannah Bananas. "We're able to hear things like bat cracks, pitcher reactions, players running down the baseline, and crowd reactions that truly bring the game to life. The sound is fuller, louder, and captures much more of the action happening across the field."

The system's advantage lies in its efficiency and precision. In other professional sports applications, two DCA901 units have proven capable of covering an entire NBA basketball court, a task that previously required more than a dozen separate microphones and hours of setup. For the Bananas, this means low-profile arrays placed at each dugout can cover the entire diamond, from home plate to the outfield, with minimal visual intrusion and maximum sonic fidelity.

Translating 'Banana Ball' for a Global Audience

The Savannah Bananas are more than a baseball team; they are an entertainment brand built on viral moments and relentless energy. The partnership with Shure is a strategic move to ensure their broadcast product is as compelling as their in-person spectacle. By delivering a rich, immersive soundscape, they aim to deepen the connection with their remote audience and enhance the storytelling that is central to their appeal.

"Our goal is to deliver an experience that feels just as exciting, if not more exciting, for viewers watching our broadcast," Webster stated. This commitment is crucial in a modern media landscape where broadcast productions are in constant competition with the allure of the live, in-venue experience. High-quality, authentic audio has become an essential tool for closing that gap.

The industry is witnessing a broader trend toward immersive experiences, with broadcasters exploring spatial audio and other technologies to make viewers feel like they are part of the action. This collaboration places the Savannah Bananas and Shure at the forefront of that movement, using sound to not just report on the game but to convey its emotional and physical reality.

Streamlining the Stadium: An Ecosystem for Efficiency

The impact of this partnership extends beyond what the audience hears; it also revolutionizes the workflow for the production team. Shure has provided a complete audio ecosystem that simplifies operations, increases reliability, and gives engineers more creative freedom. In addition to the DCA901 arrays, the Bananas' production relies on Shure's Axient Digital Wireless Systems, including the Axient Digital PSM for in-ear monitoring and the new ANX4 Scalable Wireless Receiver.

This integrated system addresses the complex challenges of live sports audio. The DCA901's single-cable setup for audio, power, and control drastically reduces setup time and potential points of failure. For audio mixers, the technology is a game-changer. "The DCA901 has become such a valuable tool for our Banana games because it makes everything so much easier to mix," explained Gwen Gitto, A1 Audio Mixer for the Savannah Bananas. "I used to sit here with the nats (natural sounds) and be really picky about which ones I'd use... But with the DCA901, I use everything now, and I really employ it everywhere. At first and third base, I'm getting every single sound I want, that's something I've never been able to do before with other microphones."

The Axient Digital system provides similar efficiency for wireless audio. "The advantages with Axient Digital PSM are the ability to keep the broadcast organized," said Clayton Franklin, A2 Audio Operator. "Now it's all coming through Axient Digital PSM with two split channels. I have all my packs, I can label them by players or reporters, I can see their batteries, their connections, and it's just much easier to maintain."

Webster added that the complete Shure ecosystem is foundational to their production. "The Axient Digital wireless system is used throughout every show, allowing us to capture clean audio from interviews, player interactions, and fan moments. With the new ANX4, we have a lot more capacity and a smaller footprint."

The Future Sound of Live Events

This collaboration is more than a simple sponsorship; it's a powerful case study for the future of live event production. As the industry increasingly moves toward remote integration (REMI) workflows to reduce costs and centralize production talent, networked and remotely controllable technologies like the DCA901 are becoming indispensable. Its potential applications extend far beyond baseball to other large-field sports like soccer and football, as well as concerts, theater, and major corporate events.

"At Shure, our focus is helping audiences feel closer to the moments that matter," said Bill Oakley, Associate Director of Global Product Management at Shure. "The Savannah Bananas are redefining what a baseball broadcast can be, and we're proud to support the crews who make that experience possible."

By leveraging technology that captures both the grand scale and the subtle details of live action, Shure and the Savannah Bananas are not just improving a broadcast; they are setting a new benchmark for immersive storytelling in sports media, ensuring that no matter where fans are watching, they can hear the game as vividly as they see it.