There is just no question that the marketing and advertising surrounding the Super Bowl is more interesting than the game itself usually turns out to be. If you needed proof of that, look no farther than into the eyes of the Clydesdale foal in this photo.
This year is the 80th Anniversary of the Budweiser Clydesdales hitch, so you know that there was something special in the pipeline. We just didn't know what, until today!
This is the Clydesdales' 23rd Super Bowl spot; they first appeared in 1986.
I thought this fact was fascinating: Budweiser's Twitter channel debuted only after the social media platform introduced age verification, allowing the beer to restrict its tweets to users 21 and older. That seems kind of sad, to me, since I know how many kids out there love the hitch, and the breed.
How is the baby Clydesdale featured in the commercial doing? Both mother, a seven-year-old mare named Darla, and baby are doing well, reports John Soto supervisor of the breeding operation
"We have had two foals born so far this year and they're both doing very well," Soto said.
What's the little big guy's name? I don't know. Maybe "Little Big Guy" isn't a bad idea. And that's the whole point. This foal is the star of the Clydesdale commercial in Sunday's Super Bowl, and Budweiser is asking for your help to name him.
Presumably, it's a colt, since all the horses in the hitch are geldings.
But it's not just that Budweiser wants your help naming the colt, it's what you have to do to submit your name.
For the first time, Budweiser has launched a Twitter account. I know that when I started following them this morning, I was #1,430 on their follower list. How long do you think it will be before this promotion--and the public's generation affection for all things Budweiser--sends their follower list over a million?
My favorite name so far is "Buddacup". Ok, ok, it sounds like a pony but it is clever!
The nameless colt was born on January 16 at Warm Springs Ranch outside St. Louis. Seven days later, it was a bona fide tv star, posing for the commercial film crew.
This year's commercial will focus on the horse-human bond between a hitch gelding and his trainer, and will show several look-alike Clydes of different ages going through the training process to become a member of the hitch.
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| The Clydesdales have their own infographic! |
I thought this fact was fascinating: Budweiser's Twitter channel debuted only after the social media platform introduced age verification, allowing the beer to restrict its tweets to users 21 and older. That seems kind of sad, to me, since I know how many kids out there love the hitch, and the breed.
How is the baby Clydesdale featured in the commercial doing? Both mother, a seven-year-old mare named Darla, and baby are doing well, reports John Soto supervisor of the breeding operation
"We have had two foals born so far this year and they're both doing very well," Soto said.
When a foal is born, the first thing they look for--after its safety and health in the foaling stall--are whether the foal has the proper markings for a Budweiser Clydesdale – a bay coat, a blaze of white on the face, four white stocking feet, and a black mane and tail. The newborns with the right markings join a select group of candidates for a future spot on one of the traveling hitches.
So just use the hashtag #clydesdale to submit your name for the baby, and watch for him on Sunday night!
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So just use the hashtag #clydesdale to submit your name for the baby, and watch for him on Sunday night!
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