Dr Pepper’s ‘Fansville’ water tower will be in Norman, Okla.

College football season will soon be here, and fans are in for a treat when the Dr Pepper brand of soft drinks rolls out “Season 9” of its popular “Fansville” series of television commercials.

 

Keurig Dr Pepper – and its Los Angeles-based advertising agency Deutsch – are keyed up for the start of the 2026 season, with the first games being televised on Saturday, Aug. 29.

A pair of North Carolina teams are in action that day. The University of North Carolina tangles with Texas Christian University in Dublin, Ireland, at 9 a.m., and N.C. State plays at Virginia at 12:30 p.m. Both games are scheduled to air on the ESPN network.

 

Fansville is a mythical town where nothing’s more revered than college football…and everyone drinks Dr Pepper. The campaign has helped cement the Dr Pepper soft drink brand as one of the premier sponsors of college football.

Coincidentally, the Dr Pepper brand has vaulted into second place in overall sales, surpassing Pepsi. Coca-Cola continues to lead in market share.

During Dr Pepper’s “Season 9” campaign, the plot thickens as the tailgate grill master (played by actor Jay Reeves) is accused of defecting from “State” to embrace a new rival, “Western,” as his “side team.”

Returning to the cast of characters is Brian Bosworth, who plays the town sheriff.

He was an All-American linebacker at the University of Oklahoma in Norman from 1984-86 and played two seasons in the National Football League before retiring due to an injury.

 

Bosworth insists he had nothing to do with a new partnership between Dr Pepper and the City of Norman…but a 100-year old municipal water tower near the University of Oklahoma football stadium is being repurposed as a replica of the iconic Fansville water tower seen in the TV commercials.

This is a big deal for the city and the university. City council members unanimously approved the partnership. The 500,000-gallon tank was decommissioned for potable water use in 2014.

 

The idea originated after an official council meeting when some of the local officials gathered at an iconic watering hole, the Bluebonnet Bar in Norman for a few beers.

 

One of the participants was council member Scott Dixon, an account manager with NCS Multistage, a consulting firm that provides engineering and support services for oil and natural gas well completions and construction as well as field development strategies.

 

Dixon, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Oklahoma, said the conversation turned to the rusty, old water tower, and “we began kicking an idea around. We all thought, “Hey, this would be a lot of fun, and really great…with Brian Bosworth’s connections to both OU and Fansville.”

Dixon tracked down a contact at Dr Pepper and sent an email.

“Five minutes later, he emailed me back, and the conversation started from there,” Dixon said.

Dr Pepper has agreed to pay the city $500,000 to make the necessary aesthetic improvements at the water tower and have it painted dark red with the Dr Pepper logo in white letters.

The project is now underway, with a target completion date of Oct. 17, when the Oklahoma Sooners host the Kentucky Wildcats at “The Palace on the Prairie,” which has a capacity of 80,126 spectators. Some seats have a good view of the water tower.

 

The goal is to create a distinctive visual landmark that supports community branding, tourism and economic activity, said Jason Olsen, Norman’s parks and recreation department director.

 

“We hope that this ends up being another incredible stop on your game day visit to Norman,” Olsen said. “We see this being a special placemaking area for friends, family and fans, and we’re just really excited for the partnership with Dr Pepper.”

Dan Schemm, president of the Visit Norman tourism office, said: “If there was ever a city that made sense for Fansville, it’s Norman. College football is a big part of our identity, and bringing a piece of Fansville to life here feels like a natural fit.”

 

“Great destinations are built on experiences people remember, and this is one of those projects that will give fans and residents something truly unique to rally around,” Schemm said. “We can’t wait to welcome people to Norman to experience it for themselves.”

Plans also call for landscaping, parking and a pocket park around the tower. Norman officials are considering lighting that could illuminate the landmark in different colors throughout the year.

Dr Pepper will be allowed to hold a kickoff celebration and up to five events at the site each year.