Meanwhile, Lay’s is capitalizing on Scandoval, the ever-popular reality TV scandal from Vanderpump Rules (which you can read about here), by bringing in Ariana Madix, along with Katie Maloney, to showcase their sandwich shop, Something About Her. Attendees can enjoy Lay’s-infused food and cocktail recipes, talent appearances and the chance to try an exclusive Lay’s potato chip flavor inspired by Something About Her.
“People want to feel like they’re getting a sneak peek behind the curtain, so the idea that we’re creating a tomato soup and grilled cheese chip that is being launched here goes along with the tone of BravoCon and this idea of being able to look into other people’s lives,” Marshall said. “In this case, you get to look into a restaurant that’s going to pop up that people have been hearing about for multiple seasons.”
Madix previously teased her BravoCon involvement at NBCU’s 2023 TV upfront event. And the list of sponsors just continues.
Saying ‘Bravo!’ to brands
Amazon Freevee will let fans connect with Bravo franchises through scannable onsite QR codes at the Bravoland Museum, Carnival will dock in Las Vegas to deliver cocktails, DoorDash is delivering fans an ultimate Bravopalooza experience, Hilton is giving VIP ticketholders a VIP lounge while Wayfair is bringing the Real Housewives to life with custom-built, interactive areas, including using AR technology to let attendees record their own Housewives tagline.
Beauty brands Juvederm Collection of Fillers, Shark Beauty and Ulta Beauty will all have a presence. Studs is providing a Studs on Wheels trailer for “Earscaping,” and Yoplait is bringing sponsored panels and giveaways.
According to Marshall, NBCUniversal considered everything about the weekend, even down to the restrooms, with Clorox coming in to handle the … messy moments.
“We’ve joked that the only downside anyone can think about for the last BravoCon at the Javits Center were the bathrooms maybe weren’t up to par,” Marshall said. “We’re going into this beautiful new complex with beautiful bathrooms, and Clorox will be part of the brand there. People who are returning are absolutely going to get that joke.”
And since Bravolebrities constantly have beef, Wendy’s is on hand to help everyone chill out.
“They have a tonality that fits perfectly within the show, so the idea of actually having Frosties being delivered daily that are going to show up,” Marshall said. “You know how much fans like free stuff, but I give a lot of credit to Wendy’s. They’ve worked closely, hand-in-hand to make sure we’re giving the fans something unique.”
The brand will also double down on “beefing” during a special episode of BravoCon Live! With Andy Cohen.
Viva Las Vegas
For Marshall, the weekend is all about Bravo fans and brands coming together.
“You know you’ve struck a cultural chord when you’ve outgrown the Javits Center in New York to take this show on the road to one of the bigger spaces in the world in Las Vegas,” Marshall said. “There’s people from all 50 states as well as internationally who will be coming to this, so while the event’s in Vegas, really the fandom is what’s drawing people from every part of the country and around the world.”