College Football Fans To Control The Goodyear Blimp For 'Rivalry Weekend'

AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT), whose world famous airships have become synonymous with the world's largest sporting events, is teaming up with ESPN SportsNation for the second time this year to get the pulse of college football fans nationwide, allowing them to decide which upcoming college football match-up will draw aerial coverage by the iconic Goodyear Blimp and be deemed the "Blimpworthy" game of the week.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO )

Kicking off today with an official announcement during ESPN's SportsNation broadcast, voters across the country now have the opportunity to direct Goodyear to send one of its three U.S.-based blimps to one of these November 24 contests: University of Notre Dame at University of Southern California; University of Michigan at Ohio State University; or University of Florida at Florida State University.

College football fans can vote through Goodyear's website ( http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/company/blimp), on www.espn.com (search term "Blimpworthy"), and ESPN's SportsNation dedicated Blimpworthy page ( http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/8317697/where-sn-send-goodyear-blim) to decide where the Goodyear Blimp will provide aerial coverage.

"ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports and Goodyear, an innovative leader in the tire industry, and known for providing incredible aerial coverage for the world's greatest sporting events, have teamed up to get college football fans in the action," said Garth Ely, Goodyear's director of brand marketing. "We are excited and proud to offer the unique opportunity to give the fans control of the Goodyear Blimp to decide which of these games is Blimpworthy."

The Blimpworthy poll closes on Monday, November 19, and the voting results will be announced live at 10 a.m. on ESPN2's First Take.

Goodyear's blimps are among the most recognizable brand icons, representing the largest tire company in North America. They have adorned the skies since 1925 and have served America as aerial aircraft carriers, surveillance airships protecting merchant ships and early warning radar stations through the 1950s. Today, the fleet consists of three North American airships - Spirit of America in Carson, CA; Spirit of Goodyear in Akron, OH; and Spirit of Innovation in Pompano Beach, FL.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs about 71,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

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