If you've ever wondered what peak fandom actually looks like, this one's your answer. March Madness just wrapped, and watching those final moments — the upsets, the eruptions, the arenas turned into something electric — it felt like the right time to revisit one of the most resonant clips we've put out. Because what happens in college basketball doesn't stay there. It carries into the pros, into arenas across every sport, into every brand marketer trying to build something that lasts.

So we went back to Mel Barry.

She leads brand marketing for the New Orleans Pelicans, and in our original conversation she described a playoff run that ended in elimination at home — and a standing ovation that no one had scripted. The team walked off the court having lost, and the crowd rose. Not out of politeness. Out of pride. Out of the feeling that this team had shown up in ways nobody expected, had fought past assumptions, and had earned something that a final score couldn't take back.

That moment — done, but at peak fandom — is the thing worth studying. It's what happens when you build genuine community instead of just chasing wins. It's what the best operators in live entertainment, sports, and fan-driven brands are reaching for every single day.

This is Fandom Unpacked: In Case You Missed It. Short, sharp, and worth your five minutes.

If this resonates, find the full conversation with Mel in the link below — and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.

Full episode with Mel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/16825422-converting-local-fans-into-lifelong-brand-advocates-with-the-new-orleans-pelicans