A Dr Pepper representative has signed a contract to renovate the Lindsey Street water tower, bringing the company’s iconic “Fansville” theme to Norman, pending city council approval, according to city staff.
If approved, the tower, about half a mile from Gaylord-Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, would be refurbished to create a fan-oriented experience for visitors.
Jason Olsen, director of the city of Norman’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the tower would be based on the Dr Pepper “Fansville” commercial campaign, which stars OU football legend Brian Bosworth as the “Fansville” sheriff.
In texts to OU Daily on Thursday, Bosworth couldn’t share much, but he did praise the city.
“I’m handcuffed….no pun intended, …” Bosworth wrote. “Norman is the perfect Fansville town…all passion ALL OF THE TIME…Boomer!!”
According to Olsen, the goal is to complete the project by the OU vs. Kentucky football game Oct. 17, the first Southeastern Conference home game of the season — two weeks before OU’s homecoming game. He said the hope is that the revamped tower would create a tourist attraction, drawing in fans during the college football season.
“We're working with (Dr Pepper) to come up with the theme of what will go below (the tower), too,” Olsen said. “But imagine this, walking through and being able to possibly hang out, grab a Dr Pepper on your way to the stadium, and possibly take a picture with Dr Pepper-type “Fansville” art behind you.”
Dr Pepper bottle in front of the Lindsey Street water tower on July 24, 2026.
Olsen said the partnership is a 10-year contract for $500,000, but that Dr Pepper will have the option to renew. He said the contract was Dr Pepper’s idea and the company reached out to the city first.
Olsen said he hopes the tower shows up in future Dr Pepper campaigns.
“We hope that this ends up being one of those situations where people come through town, especially on football game days, or football game day weekends. And this is one of those placemaking areas that people specifically come by to specifically visit and take pictures at and post on social media,” Olsen said. “And it's right by the campus, so we think that there are chances that, as you're watching, you're going to be able to see this during nationally televised football games, and even possibly, hopefully, used in marketing campaigns for Dr Pepper.”
The tower is near a strip of restaurants and Millennium student apartments along Classen Boulevard around the Lindsey Street intersection. The tower sits adjacent to Norman Street Maintenance and U-Haul Moving & Storage Center of Norman.
Water tower on Lindsey Street on May 1, 2026.
According to Olsen, the contract was finalized Thursday, but the deal has been in talks for several months. Council unanimously approved a contract Tuesday with a company that will repaint the tower, preparing it for its potential branding by Dr Pepper.
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This story was edited by Audrey McClour. Tori Pham copy edited this story.
