Coca-Cola Says: Root for the Visiting Team

It's 'Thirsty Work,' but true fans are game

You’re an Ohio State mega-fan, clad in your scarlet team colors, cheering like a maniac for the Buckeyes as they take on the rival Wolverines in a sea of yellow and blue at Michigan Stadium.

You want a Coke with that?

In a college football campaign, the Real Thing stages invasions of enemy territory, showing fans attending away games—and surviving such incursions, presumably.

Breaking this week, the spot sports the line “Fan Work Is Thirst Work.” Campus activations will follow. There’s a packaging extension and a sweepstakes, too.

All in all, it’s a fun approach, celebrating those die-hards seeking to invade enemy territory—and perhaps in need of some sweet, caffeinated refreshment to bolster their resolve.

The Cartwright agency led creative development as part of WPP Open X. Diego Contreras directed through Superprime.

CREDITS

Client
Coca-Cola
Shakir Moin Chief Marketing Officer, Coca-Cola North America
Alexander Ames Senior Director of Content & Creative Excellence
Briona Stewart Senior Manager, Creative Strategy & Content
Jennifer Kramer Senior Manager, Creative Production
Taiye Ojomo Sr. Creative Project Manager
Anne Carelli Sr. Manager, Sports & Entertainment
Kirstin Dorsch STA – Coca-Cola TM Creative Team, North America

Agency
Cartwright
Keith Cartwright Founder & CCO
Nate Ripp Creative Director
Clelia Hernandez Sr. Art Director
Stewart Poindexter Sr. Copywriter
Andrew Loevenguth Head of Integrated Production
Paige Bryant Sr. Integrated Producer
Marie Massat Head of Brand
Michelle Finelli Group Account Director
Corey Mack Account Director
Kylee Cologgi Account Executive
John Graham Head of Strategy
Hannah Avery Senior Strategist

Film Production
Superprime
Michelle Ross Founding Partner
Matt Sanders Head of Production
Diego Contreras Director
Larkin Seiple Director of Photography
Jon Dawes Line Producer

Editorial
Cartel
Middy Editor
Lauren Bleiweiss Managing Director
Viet-An Nguyen Executive Producer
Erin Bates Producer
Jill Sarao Assistant Editor

Color
Trafik
Dimitri Zola Colorist
Hugh Copeland Producer
Robert Owens Managing Partner

VFX / Conform
A52
Andres Barrios Creative Director
Dan Ellis Flame Artist
Richard Hirst Flame Artist
Gizmo Rivera Flame Artist
Kevin Stokes Flame Artist
Matthew Monteleone Flame Artist
Adrian Grey CG Artist
Chris Clyne CG Artist
David Hyatt CG Artist
Dustin Mellum CG Artist
Joe Paniagua CG Artist
Joe Chiechi CG Artist
Michael Bettinardi CG Artist
Alex Villabon Nuke Artist
Peter Murphy AE Artist
Anna Tran Producer
Zach Wakefield Head of Production
Chris Harlowe Executive Producer
Eve Kornblum Managing Director

Mix / Sound
Lime Studios
Jeff Malen Mixer
Susie Boyajian Executive Producer
Victoria Cortez Assistant Mixer

Music
Crystal Creative
Chad North Executive Producer
Tommy Phelan Founder, ECD JPNH Composer

The 2025 Clio Sports Awards are open! Enter your most creative work HERE by Sept. 5.