What do Jelly Roll and Post Malone’s Big Ass Stadium Tour have in common with Savannah Bananas games…? You might be surprised.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to attend two wildly different events: the Big Ass Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Post Malone, and a game by the legendary Savannah Bananas. On the surface, you couldn’t pick two more opposite events or audiences. Jelly and Posty’s fans skew young, edgy, and eclectic, while the Bananas attract families, kids, grandparents — really the whole neighborhood.

But once I stepped into each of these experiences, the similarities were impossible to miss: both events were masterclasses in engaging audiences and putting fans first.

At the Big Ass Stadium Tour, the energy was electric from the moment the lights went down. The thrust stage design pulled Jelly Roll and Post Malone right into the crowd — literally. They didn’t just perform to their fans; they performed with them, moving deep into the audience so thousands could feel a personal connection. Between songs, both artists shared raw, heartfelt stories of struggle, resilience, and hope. It wasn’t fluff; it was real, and the crowd knew it. You could feel the walls drop as tens of thousands of strangers bonded over lyrics and life lessons. The sense of belonging was palpable — everyone in the stadium felt seen and understood.

Just days later, I found myself in a completely different setting: a Savannah Bananas game. If you haven’t been, it’s part baseball, part circus, and 100% joy. Founder Jesse Cole’s mantra of “Fans 1st” wasn’t just a slogan slapped on marketing materials — it came to life in unforgettable ways. Before the game even started, players were in the stands signing autographs, high-fiving kids, and posing for selfies. Throughout the night, fans of all ages were invited onto the field for quick, hilarious competitions that had everyone laughing. Every inning brought a new skit, dance, or surprise that kept the entire stadium hooked. The game wasn’t just baseball — it was a shared story unfolding in real time, pulling fans into every pitch and punchline until the final out.

And what stood out at both events was how they offered something for everyone, something authentic, across the full demographics of their audiences. Whether it was grandparents dancing in the aisles at the Bananas game or teenagers screaming every word of a Post Malone anthem, everyone found moments to connect.

As someone who spends every day thinking about how to create unforgettable experiences for audiences, these events were powerful reminders: in our industry, fans are no different than our audiences. Whether you call them fans, guests, participants, or attendees, they’re the heart of every event. Especially in times of cultural and political uncertainty, when division can feel overwhelming, creating spaces where people feel welcomed, included, and like they truly belong isn’t just good business — it’s essential.

When attendees feel like they’re part of the story — not just spectators — the experience becomes something they’ll carry with them long after the final note or the last out. That’s the real magic. And it’s what we should all strive for in every experience we design.

By Jimmy Ervin, President and Chief Support Officer of Velocity XD

#VelocityXD #ExperientialDesign