Construction crews began transforming Norman's century-old Lindsey Street water tower into a Dr Pepper "Fansville" attraction Aug. 26, with a target completion date of mid-October.

The OU Daily reported that the Norman City Council unanimously approved a 10-year, $500,000 contract with Dr Pepper on July 28 to brand the tower with the company's college football-themed "Fansville" logo. Dr Pepper approached the city about the deal, according to Jason Olsen, director of the City of Norman's Parks and Recreation Department.

The tower sits about half a mile from Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, near a strip of restaurants and Millennium student apartments along Classen Boulevard. It has stood on that stretch of Lindsey Street for roughly 100 years, according to NonDoc Media.

The city wants the project finished before the OU vs. Kentucky football game on Oct. 17. That game is OU's first Southeastern Conference home contest of the season.

Beyond the paint job, plans call for a fan experience at the base of the tower where visitors could grab a Dr Pepper, take photos with "Fansville"-themed art and hang out on game day weekends. Olsen told the OU Daily in July that the city and Dr Pepper were still working out the theme for that ground-level space.

"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," Olsen told the OU Daily on July 24. "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."

The city also hopes the tower will appear in future Dr Pepper marketing campaigns and be visible during nationally televised football games, Olsen said.

A lane closure on East Lindsey Street between George Avenue and Classen Boulevard began Monday, Aug. 17, and is expected to last about 90 days, weather permitting. The city said it will aim to accommodate traffic for OU home games during the closure. Questions about the lane closure can be directed to the City of Norman Utilities Department at (405) 366-5443.

The council had discussed whether to demolish or repaint the aging tower at a July 14 conference meeting before settling on the Dr Pepper partnership.