Fans Vote University of Florida vs. Florida State University as the
Rivalry Week 'Blimpworthy' Game for Goodyear Blimp Coverage
AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than
100,000 college football fans across North America weighed in and with 44 percent
of the vote, the marquee matchup of the University of Florida at Florida State University, was named winner of The
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's (NYSE: GT) latest
"Blimpworthy" poll, drawing aerial coverage by the iconic Goodyear
Blimp during the Nov. 24 college
football contest. The game was officially announced as the winner
on ESPN's First Take broadcast, defeating matchups between
University of Notre Dame at
University of Southern California (37
percent), and University of Michigan at
Ohio State University (19 percent).
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121121/NY17588LOGO)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO)
"We would like to thank the thousands of fans that took the time
to vote and make 'Blimpworthy' a success. We are excited to
have the Goodyear Blimp providing great aerial coverage for such an
amazing in-state rivalry," said Garth
Ely, Goodyear's director of brand marketing. "The stage is
set for a hard-fought gridiron battle and fans will get a view from
the best seat in the house...from the Goodyear Blimp."
The poll kicked off with an official announcement during Nov.
12's ESPN2's SportsNation broadcast, and fans voted on the
websites of Goodyear and ESPN to decide where the Goodyear Blimp
would provide aerial coverage. The choices included the three
college football games with voting ending at 5 p.m. on Monday, November
19.
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 or its products, go to
www.goodyear.com.
SOURCE Goodyear