Building on its longstanding partnership with the NFL and a season-long activation for its food and beverage brands, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc.’s North America Beverages division will be out in full force on air, online and on the ground during Super Bowl LI, which takes place Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston. The company will spotlight two zero-calorie products during this year’s game — LIFEWTR and Pepsi Zero Sugar, it says.

“It’s an honor to work with the NFL and our customers to bring our brands to life during the biggest sports and entertainment event of the year,” said Seth Kaufman, chief marketing officer of PepsiCo North America Beverages, in a statement. “We’re particularly proud to promote two zero-calorie products — LIFEWTR and Pepsi Zero Sugar — during such a high-profile event as we continue to transform our product lineup to offer beverage choices for every consumer lifestyle and occasion.”

Brand activity includes:

• LIFEWTR advertisement, “Inspiration Drops”: PepsiCo’s in-game TV advertisement features LIFEWTR, the company’s new, premium bottled water that fuses creativity and design to serve as a source of inspiration as well as hydration, the company says. The brand’s label will change several times a year and serve as a platform for emerging and developing artists to be discovered and to inspire consumers on a broad scale. The LIFEWTR ad will inspire consumers with captivating visuals, spectacular settings and revolutionary visual effects, it says. In the ad, a city is transformed by a storm that turns everything the rain touches into the bright, colorful art of the brand’s Series One label artists. Global superstar and Grammy award-winning artist John Legend is featured with an inspired version of his hit single, “Love Me Now,” that’s been tailored to reflect the advertisement’s art direction and bring its imagery to life, it adds. “Inspiration Drops” was directed by two-time Academy Award winner Robert Stromberg. A 30-second version of the TV ad will air during the first half of Super Bowl LI, while a 60-second version will be released online. LIFEWTR is available in the U.S. beginning in February.
• Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show and Lead-In: Global superstar and multiple-award-winner Lady Gaga will headline the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show on FOX-TV.  Leading up to the game, fans can visit Pepsi.com for behind-the-scenes looks into Lady Gaga's journey to the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show, the company says. Some fans were also given the chance to win sideline passes to see her perform live, it adds. This is the fifth year Pepsi is sponsoring the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and it will be Lady Gaga's second time performing on the Super Bowl stage. She sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 last February. In the 10 seconds before the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show, the brand will countdown to Lady Gaga’s performance with a lead-in featuring legendary singer Tony Bennett. PepsiCo’s Creators League Studio produced the lead-in, it says.
• LIFEWTR “Art After Dark” Experience: LIFEWTR is partnering with the ultimate traveling night club, Club Nomadic, to host “Art After Dark,” an entertainment experience fusing music, technology and art, on Feb. 3. Award-winning artist Bruno Mars will be the evening’s headliner with a special performance by DJ Khaled. Tickets sold out in less than a minute, the company says. During Art After Dark, the LIFEWTR label artists’ work will jump off the bottles through audiovisual and experiential activations throughout the space, including an infinity bottle wall installation sculpture and captivating artist takeover spaces, it says. Also, in honor of 1893 from the makers of Pepsi-Cola, an exclusive speakeasy-style lounge will offer 1893 and bourbon cocktails, transporting attendees to an elevated time, it adds.
• Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award: Pepsi returns as sponsor of the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award for the 15th year in a row, it says. Players were selected weekly for their outstanding performances throughout the 2016 NFL season, and the winner will be announced Feb. 3. The five 2016 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year finalists are Joey Bosa, defensive end; Ezekiel Elliott, running back; Deion Jones, linebacker; Dak Prescott, quarterback; and Carson Wentz, quarterback.
• Pepsi Digital Content and Additional NFL Advertising: To show fans a different side of their favorite players, Pepsi launched Zone Reads, a comedic series of digital shorts featuring the Pepsi roster of NFL athletes. The brand also partnered with Tostitos, the official chip-and-dip of the NFL, to give fans a chance to win unreal experiences through a special on-pack promotion, the company says. Quarterback Drew Brees helped with a spot called “Drew & Me.” Pepsi and Tostitos also joined forces in a digital series showcasing everyone’s favorite “Super Bowl Party Planner,” starring linebacker Von Miller, and worked with customer Wal-Mart to create “Party Poopers,” starring quarterback Joe Flacco, it says. Throughout the NFL season, Pepsi was featured in a series of TV advertisements, celebrating everyday wins and encouraging fans to #BreakOutThePepsi. The ads feature Pepsi athletes and wide receiver Antonio Brown, wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Pepsi will partner with Snapchat for live content and lenses in-game during Super Bowl LI, it adds.
• Mtn Dew Kickstart at NFL Experience: Mtn Dew Kickstart is back at the Super Bowl and debuting two new flavors — Raspberry Citrus and Mango Lime — that will be sampled at NFL Experience, an on-the-ground experience featuring an augmented reality (AR) mirror that lets fans create their own mascot in a virtual world, the company says. Using the AR mirror, fans can bring their inner mascot to life by grabbing fun props and donning virtual Mtn Dew Kickstart costumes, each one a combination of three awesome things, it says. Consumers will walk away from the experience with a new Mtn Dew Kickstart flavor and a 15-second video of their AR mascot to share on social media using the hashtag #KICKSTART, it adds.
• Lipton Iced Tea at Super Bowl Live: Lipton Iced Tea is helping attendees “Be More Tea” through its eight-day presence at Super Bowl Live, which will feature cooking demonstrations and competitions by local Houston chefs, the company says. These mealtime experiences will be made even more delicious through pairings with Lipton Iced Tea, which can be sampled at the activation and purchased throughout Super Bowl Live, it adds.
• Gatorade: The longest-standing partner of the NFL will be making its 34^th Super Bowl appearance as an official NFL sponsor. Gatorade fuels NFL athletes on the field throughout the regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl, the company says. It is an integral part of the game and a staple of sidelines and locker rooms, it adds.
• PepsiCo NSPIRE at Game Day Fan Plaza: PepsiCo’s premier foodservice team is bringing PepsiCo NSPIRE, an innovation kitchen on wheels, to the Game Day Fan Plaza on the ground in Houston, the company says. Consumers can sample PepsiCo food — such as Cheetos Popcorn and Cool Ranch Doritos Loaded — and beverages poured from the state-of-the-art, digital touchscreen fountain, Pepsi Spire, it adds.
• PepsiCo's Game Day Grub Match: PepsiCo is teaming up with Tastemade on a digital content series featuring chefs competing to create the ultimate football food using PepsiCo beverages and foods as ingredients in their recipes, the company says. The cooking show-style series will be hosted by chef and restaurateur Jet Tila and feature a panel of judges from the worlds of food and football, including Food Network Chef Anne Burrell and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward. The winner scores tickets to Super Bowl LI and also will join PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation at Taste of the NFL's "Party With A Purpose" on Feb. 4, an annual event that raises money to support food banks across the United States, it add.  

PepsiCo’s relationship with the NFL is among the company’s longest running and most successful sports sponsorships, the company says.