STōK Cold Brew Coffee is all about bold moves, and this year during the Big Game, the brand is shamelessly challenging traditional American football culture. As the official stadium sponsor of Wrexham AFC, owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, STōK Cold Brew Coffee is bringing the hype of football (um, soccer?) to America’s biggest sports stage. What better way to celebrate the Welsh football team’s success and ambition of reaching the Premier League?
In a new spot created by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort in collaboration with Danone Internal Agency, Harvest Creative, STōK reveals it isn’t just the sponsor of Wrexham AFC’s stadium, The STōK Cae Ras, it’s also the cold brew coffee that fuels the team mascot, Wrex the Dragon, played by world-renowned Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins. Brewed low and slow for an especially bold and smooth taste, a glass of STōK helps Hopkins unleash his inner dragon and hype up Wrexham AFC fans as the face behind their beloved team mascot.
“People are used to seeing brew commercials during the Big Game, but I don’t think they expect it to be cold brew, let alone a cold brew coffee brand celebrating a Welsh soccer team,” said Brittney Polka, Vice President of Ready-to-Drink Beverages at Danone North America and lead for STōK Cold Brew Coffee. “STōK isn’t afraid to make bold moves and challenge the norms of traditional marketing. Partnering with Sir Anthony Hopkins to bring Wrexham AFC to [American] football’s biggest stage is exactly the kind of bold act fans have come to expect from STōK.”
“The secret is out! For the past few seasons, one of the keys to Wrexham’s success has been the singular performance of Wrex the Red Dragon as portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins and fueled by STōK Cold Brew Coffee,” said Wrexham AFC Co-Chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. “Critics have called his performance ‘Moving’ and ‘Heartfelt’ as well as ‘Surprisingly acrobatic for an 80-year old.’ We just call him a legend and are forever grateful.”
“The Big Game is one of the iconic sporting events on the international calendar,” said Humphrey Ker, Executive Director of Wrexham AFC. “Sir Anthony Hopkins taking on the role of Wrex the Dragon is a sight that many would have thought ridiculous before Rob and Ryan took over the Club, and we love our partners at STōK Cold Brew for their bold approach to make this a reality.”
