What happens in Vegas, stays on social media—thanks to BravoCon’s new, expanded partnerships for 2023.
With BravoCon’s move to Las Vegas for its Nov. 3-Nov. 5 event at Caesar’s Forum, NBCUniversal will bring in 20 expanded and interactive brand sponsorships and three times as many commercial-led activations, according to the company.
“Brands are absolutely a fabric of the weekend in the storytelling,” Mark Marshall, NBCUniversal’s chairman of ad sales, told Adweek. “When we look back at last BravoCon, you look at all the passion that everyone has for all the Bravolebrities, but also one of the longest lines you had was Jake from State Farm.”
Whether fawning over Real Housewives or Jake from State Farm’s Discount Double Checks, fans will have plenty of opportunities. NBCUniversal told Adweek that around 165 Bravolebrities will attend, and the weekend includes more than 60 live events, with partners accessing NBCU’s One Platform to connect with attendees, expected to reach 30,000 strong.
And for those who can’t attend, on-ground activations will come to life digitally through social channels, Peacock and bravotv.com.
“It’s not just about the 30,000 people that are there. It’s the voyeurism of people wanting to know what’s going on even if they aren’t there,” Marshall said. “What we’re doing socially, as well as on the digital side with Peacock, where we’re going to have our own pregame daily show, so it almost starts to feel like your NFL day.”
Fans in-person and online can also enjoy various shoppable experiences, including the Bravo Bazaar, which features products from Bravo talent-owned brands and emerging businesses, and a new BravoConShoppable Microsite, where brands such as Nexxus can be accessed through QR codes both at the booths and across social, digital, linear and streaming.
Marshall told Adweek that BravoCon had “heavy retention” among partners, with each returning brand expanding its presence, including presenting sponsors State Farm and Lay’s.
State Farm is bringing attendees to the Hamptons with its activation, letting fans create friendship bracelets and captured Instagrammable moments with Summer House-inspired props. The brand is also involved with The BravoCon Morning Show, a daily livestream via Bravo’s TikTok handle, and The Best of BravoCon Recap Show, which streams on Peacock in the days following the event, with special appearances by Bravo talent and even, yes, State Farm’s aforementioned Jake.