Everyone who knows the first thing about Atlanta knows that it’s Coca-Cola’s city. So what happens when the Super Bowl comes to town — along with Pepsi, its official soft drink? Pepsi replacing Coke in Atlanta is like… Whataburger replacing Chik-Fil-A, or Fox replacing CNN. It just doesn’t fit.
We’re just weeks away from the Super Bowl being hosted in Atlanta, and the Pepsi-Cola company has decided to take advantage of this opportunity by putting up ads that are full of snark. “Look who’s in town for Super Bowl LIII.” reads one glowing billboard above the highway. “Pepsi in Atlanta. How refreshing.” reads another.
In the spirit of the biggest American football event of the year, everyone likes a little friendly competition and trash talking, and pettiness is popular right now.
Pepsi knew they would spark controversy with the ad campaign, and so far, it’s succeeding:
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Some even pointed out that there may be very little about this Super Bowl for Atlanta residents to get excited about at all.
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Regardless of your opinion on the Super Bowl, seeing blue Pepsi ads around normally-Coke-red Atlanta is pretty bizarre. Luckily, they’ll only last until Super Bowl LIII, which will be held on February 3rd, 2019.