Followers of the universe of actuality collection and stars from the Bravo community are loyal and fierce. BravoCon, a three-day celebration of all issues Bravo, is just like the Tremendous Bowl or the Olympics to them, based on Andy Cohen, the artistic power behind the community.
“I don’t suppose it’s hyperbole, particularly for a Bravo fan, to say that,” Cohen stated.
That’s why he and leaders at Bravo and its father or mother firm, NBCUniversal, have been motivated to deliver this yr’s BravoCon, operating Friday by way of Sunday at Caesars Discussion board in Las Vegas, to followers who can’t make the trek to Sin Metropolis.
Peacock can be delivering its most strong protection of the occasion but, providing reside entry to buzzy main-stage panels and next-day, on-demand streaming for a number of different occasions from the weekend. Highlights embrace 5 “BravoCon Stay With Andy Cohen” exhibits, panels with the casts of hit collection like “The Traitors” and “Beneath Deck,” and sneak peeks on the upcoming seasons of some beloved Bravo favorites, together with “Vanderpump Guidelines,” which returns Dec. 2 with a brand new forged of “SUR-vers.”
BravoCon is returning after organizers opted to skip a Vegas conference in 2024, internet hosting extra intimate gatherings in New York and Los Angeles as an alternative. However even with a yr’s break, the occasion’s reputation hasn’t waned: Common admission wristbands for the weekend, which run at about $675, are bought out, and solely one-day passes, which value $300, stay. Add-on experiences just like the glamorous awards present, the Bravos, and reside tapings begin at $220. That value, plus journey and lodging, make the occasion inaccessible for a lot of followers. That’s one thing Cohen needed to alter.
Cohen will take part in two “Ask Andy” classes this yr, by which followers can pose their burning inquiries to the host and “Actual Housewives” government producer.
(Nicole Weingart / Bravo)
“Bravo is a spot for everyone,” he stated. “If you happen to couldn’t get tickets to BravoCon, you will be there on Peacock, and also you’ll be hyper-served on Peacock. [We] don’t need to really feel like this entire occasion is behind an enormous paywall. It’s form of democratizing the occasion. I simply suppose that’s actually essential, that it’s as inclusive as doable, and the tent be as huge as doable.”
Viewers can stream the panels held on the Bravoverse Stay Stage in actual time, and they’re going to have the prospect to revisit panels on-demand, whereas each panel held on the Gold and Glam levels can be obtainable on Peacock the subsequent day at 9 a.m. PT. (Some occasions can even air on Bravo; a full schedule is on the BravoCon website.) Choose panels from the 2023 conference are additionally obtainable to stream on the platform.
Frances Berwick, the chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, emphasised the objective of creating the occasion inclusive of all Bravo followers, and she or he stated she seems ahead to “inviting new and totally different viewers” into the Bravo world with the accessibility streaming offers. Nonetheless, the core workforce behind the occasion needed to make sure they preserve the standard and value for individuals who are heading to Vegas.
“We didn’t need to undercut the worth for ticket payers, however there’s a lot extra to really being there — from the standpoint of seeing folks, getting up near the expertise, meet and greets, picture ops, the Bravo Bazaar — that it’s a extremely totally different expertise,” she stated. “We realized that shouldn’t be a consideration when it comes to holding again any of the panels [from streaming access].”
Berwick is credited with serving to to construct Bravo into the powerhouse it’s at present, and she or he was instrumental within the launch of BravoCon in 2019. She and Cohen, talking with The Instances on separate calls, stated they began small with the primary BravoCon, which was held in New York. This yr, Cohen stated they anticipate 30,000 followers to descend on Las Vegas for the weekend.
“There actually aren’t too many leisure manufacturers that I feel you could possibly anticipate this kind of viewers to be galvanized round, and it simply speaks to the loyalty and the fervour of the fan base that we are able to do it,” Berwick stated.
The spirit of the weekend is overwhelmingly optimistic, based on Berwick and Cohen, with in-person attendees touring with pals or making pals on the occasion. Cohen says it’s “like a vacation spot wedding ceremony the place everybody loves the bride and groom.” He and people behind BravoCon are hoping at-home viewers nonetheless get a style of that power, particularly since they’re capable of take part within the dialog about all of the newsy panels and occasions as they unfold in actual time.
Greater than 150 “Bravolebrities” are collaborating on this yr’s panels and occasions at BravoCon.
(Nicole Weingart / Bravo)
The mechanics behind making BravoCon obtainable for each reside and on-demand streaming has been within the works for 5 years now, since Peacock launched, stated Matt Strauss, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.
“We had at all times constructed a platform that was engineered to have the ability to assist reside as a result of we actually needed to faucet into the heart beat of what we thought was doable with streaming,” Strauss stated. “We now have constructed a platform that’s been engineered at scale, and it’s been examined.”
Stay entry was essential due to a lesson the Peacock workforce realized about viewers when the newest season of “Love Island USA” dominated the platform and popular culture at massive this summer season: “FOMO. Folks didn’t need to miss out on the social features,” Strauss stated. He and his workforce have created “a complete consumer expertise” inside Peacock particularly for BravoCon, with quick access to what’s taking place reside and customized playlists based mostly on customers’ pursuits.
And followers shouldn’t fret about experiencing hiccups with the reside content material, Strauss stated. “Our job is to ship a world-class expertise that simply works,” he stated, noting that they’ve been making ready for the occasion for months.
Cohen stated he’s wanting to broaden the expertise this yr, and feels the thrill about BravoCon is a “nice supply of satisfaction.”
“It’s a testomony to the facility of this model,” he stated, “one of many few manufacturers in tv that may dominate the form of water cooler, popular culture dialog, nonetheless in 2025 the place it’s so arduous to interrupt by way of.”
