Live from the Bracket

Conceptual | Art Direction | Set Design | Production | Social

March Madness isn’t just about the games. It’s about everything around them: the travel, the traditions, the chaos of the bracket.

So for Marriott Bonvoy, we created Live From the Bracket – a recorded podcast series distributed across social and streaming platforms designed to capture the energy of tournament season as it unfolds in real time. In partnership with the Show Me Something podcast hosted by Fever G Sophie Cunningham and sports journalist West Wilson, we developed a four-episode series featuring athletes, fans, and cultural voices, diving into the stories, rituals, and emotions that define college basketball fandom.

From episodes filmed at the largest March Madness bracket in the country in Indianapolis, to the Women’s Final Four in Arizona during the tournament, the series brings fans closer to the experience while positioning Marriott Bonvoy at the center of where gameday truly lives.

pre-launch content

To tease the series, West and Sophie hit up MSG ahead of the St. John’s vs. UConn women’s basketball game, where they interviewed fans on fandom, travel, and March Madness hot takes. Fast, authentic street content doubled as launch promotion, driving awareness for the podcast and Marriott Bonvoy’s Women’s Final Four One Point Drop.

episode one

The podcast kicks off from the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, where Sophie and West launch the series ahead of the 2026 Men’s Final Four® with guest Joel McHale to talk March Madness chaos, travel, and fandom. The cutdowns include Joel’s in-bed teaser at the JW Marriott, Sophie and West ranking top hotel experiences, and “What Does Your Bracket Say About You?” – fan-submitted bracket breakdowns.

SAMPLE cutdowns

episode two

Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson are joined by Lexie Hull at the Westin in Indianapolis for a conversation on college hoops, travel, and the road to the Final Four. The cutdowns tease Lexie’s arrival and features Pack It or Pass It, a quick-fire game of travel must-haves vs. hard passes.

SAMPLE cutdowns

episode three

On the ground in Phoenix for the Women’s Final Four®, Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson are joined by Holly Rowe and Allison Feaster to explore the stories and evolution of women’s basketball. Cutdowns include a cheeky teaser, Holly’s reflections on the game’s rise, and Allison’s POV as a former WNBA player and proud parent watching her daughter thrive in college hoops.

SAMPLE cutdowns

MURAL DESIGN

We partnered with Phoenix-based artist La Morena to create a large-scale custom mural backdrop for the set – designed to visually anchor the podcast in Phoenix while celebrating travel and the rise of women’s basketball.

EPISODE FOUR

The final episode, recorded in Indianapolis for the Men’s Final Four® Championship, features Jay Williams breaking down the pressure, culture, and chaos of March Madness on and off the court. A fitting close to the series, including cutdowns featuring a game of “This or That” and stories from Jay.

SAMPLE CUTDOWNS

set design

The goal was to create a set that balanced courtside energy with a relaxed, lived-in feel. Authentic basketball elements and props are softened with warm textures and asymmetrical seating to create a space that feels natural and not staged in Marriott properties. In Arizona, a custom mural grounded the set in Women’s Final Four® energy and local culture in a unique way that still felt like the set design could flex and feel unique to each location.

Modular and production-ready, the system flexed across the different locations while maintaining a consistent, premium feel.

press

Little Black Book: Marriott Bonvoy's ‘Where Gameday Checks In’ Chronicles the Rituals and Memories of Sports Travel
Yahoo! Sports: Sophie Cunningham Partners with Marriott Bonvoy for New Podcast Series Ahead of WNBA Season
Sports Business Journal: Marriott Bonvoy launches ‘Live From the Bracket’ podcast during March Madness
Parade: Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson Reveal the Real Moment March Madness Is Won
PR Newswire: Marriott Bonvoy Brings Game Day Stories to Life With Its 'Where Gameday Checks In' Campaign, Exclusive Live From the Bracket Podcast Series, and NCAA Women's Final Four 1-Point Drop

Client: Marriott Bonvoy
Agency: 160over90

Group Creative Director: Craig Stewart
Creative Director: Allyson Bernstein
Senior Copywriter: Rylee Maron
Producer: Brendon Riley
Director: Keith Kennedy