Pepsi entertains again with a reimagined Gladiator inspired epic gameday

While cola drinkers have come to embrace the “everything is better with Pepsi” concept, the iconic beverage brand makes a grand entrance into the NFL season. Reimaging its Roman Empire Gladiator concept, this battle will entertain everyone.

The intersection of sports, pop culture, and food is a sweet spot for brands. When a company can find a way to integrate all those areas into a single campaign, it will resonate with a large group. This new Pepsi campaign does just that.

As seen in the new Pepsi spot, the idea of “Make Your Gameday Epic” is more than just another tailgate, fantasy football battle, or just Sunday on the couch. It captures how people feel as fans, how interconnected they are to the successes of those players on the gridiron.

The commercial captures what Pepsi does best, bringing together music, sports and entertainment. Who hasn’t clapped to that iconic song during a pivotal moment in a game. Watching the best players make epic plays is thrilling. The power of the crowd to influence the outcome is vital.

This campaign brings together all those elements in the best possible way. Even though fans might never step onto that playing field, we want to feel like we are part of the highs and lows, impact the outcome.

In some ways, that sentiment comes across by cracking open a Pepsi to toast to an epic play or it is a good luck charm heading into a fourth quarter scenario.

With excitement building for the NFL season, the VMAs, and the upcoming Gladiator II movie, Pepsi has captured all three elements in a single concept. Bringing people together is what the iconic cola brand does best and this idea epitomizes it.