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

New York City is one of the most famous “brands” on earth, yet selling a trip to NYC still comes down to the same hard question every marketer faces: how do you keep something iconic feeling personal, current, and worth the effort? We sit down with Nancy Mammana, Chief Marketing Officer at New York City Tourism + Conventions, to get inside the strategy behind promoting a city that never stops changing, and to understand what “authentic” really means when millions of visitors arrive with completely different tastes, budgets, and comfort levels.

We talk about NYC’s resilience, and why the city doesn’t have an awareness problem, it has a discovery problem. Nancy breaks down how her team tells a fuller story than the headline attractions, using local opinions and neighborhood voices to guide people toward the unexpected across all five boroughs. We also dig into value-driven tentpoles like Restaurant Week, Broadway Week, and the broader Winter Outing push, including how these programs support local businesses during key periods of need and help visitors plan a weekend that actually feels doable.

Then we go deep on AI trip planning and what it’s changing right now. Nancy shares what they're learning from AI-powered tools on their site, how traveler queries are becoming more nuanced, and why keeping information accurate and up to date matters more than ever as people plan through ChatGPT-style experiences. We also look ahead to the FIFA World Cup and how fan zones and citywide activations can turn tournament energy into exploration, community, and real economic impact beyond the stadium.

Subscribe to Fandom Unpacked, share this conversation with a friend in travel, ticketing, or live events, and leave us a rating and review so more people can find the show.

Recorded Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Maureen Andersen, President & CEO, INTIX
Guest: Nancy Mammana, Chief Marketing Officer, New York City Tourism + Conventions
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

A circus company that builds entire worlds does not stop at the stage. We're joined by Spiegelworld CMO Lindsay Sanna to unpack how immersive live entertainment becomes real fandom when every detail is intentional, from the moment you walk in to the last sip of a cocktail. We talk about what makes Spiegelworld experiences like Absinthe feel like true escapism, why intimate venues create a kind of connection that arenas cannot touch, and how “surprise and delight” turns guests into repeat visitors who bring their friends.

We also get into the wild headline that says it all about their creative ambition: Spiegelworld bought Nipton, CA, a tiny town in the Mojave Desert, and is using it as a spiritual and creative center for dreaming up what comes next. From there, we trace how the brand expands beyond shows into hospitality without losing its DNA, and why the best live experience marketing treats food, drinks, and service as part of the same story world.

On the practical side, Lindsay breaks down customer journey strategy, ticketing, and point-of-sale tech, including how their CRM approach helps reduce friction, bundle upgrades, and set pricing expectations before guests arrive. We also compare marketing Las Vegas versus Atlantic City, and tackle the listener question: who is an “adult circus” really for, and how do you message edge while staying inclusive?

Subscribe for more conversations on fandom and live experiences, share this with a friend who works in entertainment or hospitality, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Recorded Thursday, March 26th, 2026
Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation
Guest: Lindsay Sanna, Chief Marketing Officer, Spiegelworld
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

Ever wondered how a legendary stage keeps pace with a hundred different audiences at once? We sit down with Carnegie Hall’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sara Villagio, to explore how a 135-year-old institution stays agile, relevant, and deeply human while serving fans who arrive through classical subscriptions, education programs, global tours, and once-in-a-lifetime occasions. From a rebrand that landed quietly and confidently to a St. Patrick’s Day concert reframed as New York’s signature celebration, Sara shares how the team thinks in both seasons and sprints.

We talk about real-world friction and the quirks that make the Hall beloved: scaling digital ticketing while fans still request printed stubs as souvenirs, navigating a multi-door lobby to the breathtaking reveal of Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, and the storied climb to the balcony that becomes a rite of passage. Sara explains why education and social impact initiatives are designed to help people solve real problems first, not as a pipeline to paid audiences, expanding what “success” means beyond ticket counts and revenue. She also pulls back the curtain on festivals that blend fandoms, like Nuestro sonidos, where reggaeton, salsa, and orchestral programs lived side by side and invited discovery across genres.

On the data and technology front, we dig into practical AI: using Microsoft Copilot to synthesize customer feedback and surface fixable pain points fast; speeding creative edits with transparent, consent-driven tools; and opening the archives with an agent that answers repertoire questions. And yes, we get into subscriptions; why fixed packages spiked thanks to the Ring Cycle, how seat loyalty still matters, and where Create Your Own fits when demand is high. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of first dates turned decades-long marriages, box office lines that feel uniquely New York, and the words that best capture the room’s charge: electric, magical, powerful, moving.

If this conversation sparked ideas, follow Fandom Unpacked, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more curious fans find the show.

Recorded Monday, March 2nd, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Meghan Goria, Account Group Director of Arts & Culture, Situation
Guest: Sara Villagio, Chief Marketing Officer, Carnegie Hall
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

Step onto the INTIX show floor with us in Las Vegas as we sit down with Amy Graca, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Caesars Entertainment, to unpack how an ordinary ticket becomes an extraordinary night. Amy takes us inside a 50-venue footprint (over 20 on the Strip alone) where the “all-in-one” experience blends world-class shows, signature dining, and artist access into something fans can’t get anywhere else.

We dig into the playbook behind those moments: co-creating with artists to design packages that feel personal and scalable. Hear how Old Dominion’s multi-market synergy drove a Strip takeover, and how Blake Shelton’s Colosseum run links to his Ole Red bar with a gamified, show-specific T-shirt drop chosen by Blake himself. Amy frames it all through the lens of unreasonable hospitality; an operating system where flawless execution, clear communication, and frontline care turn VIP from a label into a promise. That’s how trust is built with artists and why it endures, from opening-night parties to Garth Brooks saluting his ushers mid-show.

We also explore how to offer personalized value across different life stages, whether through lawn bundles with friends or curated lounge access, and spotlight the reinvention of meet-and-greets: Donny Osmond’s intimate story-and-song gatherings, Sting’s interactive Q&A sessions, and Usher’s backstage world transformed into a multi-room experience.

If you care about the craft behind a great show—artist collaboration, operational excellence, and hospitality that dares to overdeliver—this conversation will spark ideas for your team and your next night out. Follow the series, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more fans and pros can find us.

Recorded Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Maureen Andersen, President & CEO, INTIX
Guest: Amy Graca, SVP of Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

What makes a show truly “worth it” when wallets feel tight and the pace of change won’t slow down? We sat down on the floor at INTIX to unpack new survey data from leaders across live entertainment and paired it with insights from 100,000+ patron responses. The result is a clear map of where price perception meets real value, how C‑suite and frontline teams see the same problem from different seats, and what it takes to turn AI from a buzzword into a daily workflow advantage.

We start by reframing “too expensive” into a conversation about meaning, memory, and friction. Our Ticketmaster study shows “expensive” ranks differently across concerts, sports, and theater, hinting at how narrative and ritual shape perceived value. Then we pressure‑test that idea with the Deal or No Deal memory exercise, revealing why fans often prize the experience far beyond the ticket price after the fact (and how marketers can seed that feeling before purchase). Along the way, we explore the split between patron‑first and business‑first instincts: non‑C‑suite voices cite affordability and loyalty, while executives eye production costs, aging facilities, and upskilling.

AI threads through every function (analytics, marketing, service, operations), yet many still rate its impact as “moderate.” We explain why visibility lags behind reality and share a practical path to adoption: identify team “yak‑shaving,” pilot targeted AI workflows, capture wins, and codify them into prompts and playbooks. Finally, we land on the leadership trait the room chose for 2026: adaptability. Not as a buzzword, but as the operating system for transparent decisions, faster test‑and‑learn cycles, and trust that survives volatility.

If you work in live events, this conversation offers actionable strategies: align on value, reduce full‑journey friction, design for memory, and build AI‑enabled super teams. Subscribe, share with a colleague who lives in the box office or the boardroom, and tell us: what would make your next show undeniably worth it?

See additional results from the Future of Live survey here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perspective-challenge-what-our-intix-leadership-survey-bazadona-qbs5e

Recorded Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Lisa Cecchini, Managing Partner, Situation, & Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting

If you care about how fandom really grows, this year-end review is your field guide. We pulled threads from dozens of candid conversations across sports, Broadway, music, family entertainment, and venue operations to reveal seven clear themes that separate fleeting hype from durable community.

We start with growing audiences: the U.S. Open’s free Fan Week proves sampling converts, while the Formula 1 Exhibition shows how taking the show to the city unlocks new audiences. That same logic challenges Broadway to think bigger than fixed seat counts, with live capture and streaming as discovery engines that feed the box office rather than compete with it. And we dismantle lazy assumptions about women’s sports with The Gist’s blueprint for reaching underserved fans by widening the lane, not narrowing it.

Legacy, when handled with care, becomes a growth asset. PBS and Feld Entertainment explain how to honor nostalgia while delivering something new enough to belong to today’s audience. Opera lovers remind us what lifelong loyalty sounds like when a performance clicks and imprints for decades. On the artist side, the economics of touring and social access make fan relationships the main stage; from the GRAMMYs’ vantage point to music cruises built for connection, the artists who treat fans as partners build careers that last.

Technology runs through it all, with AI emerging as the new discovery layer. The job now is to make your content machine-readable so it surfaces where people ask for it, while keeping tech focused on enabling human care. Hospitality over scripts is the mandate: Southwest’s trust-in-people approach, BroadwayCon’s simple meetups that turn strangers into friends, and D23’s daily listening across superfans show how authenticity scales. Finally, we go inside the venue: “street-to-seat” design raises expectations on speed, choice, and sensory experience, and local identity, like New Orleans pride at Pelicans games, turns moments into memories.

Walk the lot. Time the lines. Watch the fans. That’s the habit we’re taking into next season, along with a commitment to keep the conversation practical, human, and loud. If this resonates, subscribe, share the show with a colleague who builds audiences, and leave a review to help more fan-first leaders find us.

A big thank you to all of our guests, including Nicole Kankam, Jonathan Linden, Jacie deHoop, Robert Diamond, Alex Birsh, Ruthie Fierberg, Amy Wigler, Jim Moseley, Melanie Broussalion, Eric Bornemann, John Loken, Jeff Cuellar, Janette Roush, Andrew Recinos, Andrew Harvell, Melissa Anelli, Michael Vargo, Tina Heney, Elisa Padilla, and Mel Barry.

Recorded December 2025
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting

What if a sports team stopped selling your attention and started earning your trust? We sit down with Emily Cole, whose company, Fans First Entertainment, owns the Savannah Bananas, to unpack how putting fans first can flip an entire industry. From all-in ticket pricing and ad-free outfields to a face-value resale platform that prioritizes local families, Emily shows how clear principles lead to bold choices and unforgettable nights.

We explore what “partnership” means when logos aren’t plastered on every wall and value flows to the guest first. Culture sits at the core: hiring for hungry, humble, and smart creates a team that thrives on autonomy, learns relentlessly, and treats every city with care. Emily’s quiet moments during every national anthem become a compass for the work; thousands choosing to spend their time and money with you is a responsibility, not a metric.

Beyond the field, we dive into Bananas Foster, their joy-first initiative that celebrates foster families at every game, turning applause into awareness and action through local connections. And because they love doing the opposite of normal, the Bananas even bring fans together at sea with a multi-day cruise designed for deeper community. Along the way, Emily addresses misconceptions about “overnight” success, why they keep prices accessible despite demand, and how measuring people served beats watching the bank balance.

If you’re craving a roadmap for fan experience, meaningful partnerships, and community that lasts, this conversation delivers play-by-play insight. Follow and share the show, and leave a review so more curious fans can find it.

Recorded Tuesday, December 9th, 2025
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Maureen Andersen, President & CEO, INTIX
Guest: Emily Cole, Founder, Fans First Entertainment & Owner, The Savannah Bananas
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Innovation Advisor, Situation