AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For years, sports fans have acknowledged the significance of a big sporting event by the presence of the Goodyear Blimp flying overhead and providing aerial television coverage. Now, fans have their first opportunity to help decide which college football games will attract the Goodyear Blimp – through online voting.

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

A promotion via Goodyear's website and ESPN's SportsNation TV program will help choose which upcoming games are "Blimpworthy." From today until 3 p.m. (Eastern) on Nov. 3, voting is open and rotating on www.espn.com (search term "Blimpworthy") and also available at the dedicated Blimpworthy page at http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/7160978/goodyear-blimpworthy-poll to decide where the Blimp will provide aerial coverage.

The opportunity for voters to direct Goodyear to send one of its three U.S.-based blimps to a specific game will involve these Nov. 12 games: Oregon at Stanford; Florida at South Carolina; and Miami at Florida State.

The match-ups and voting period were announced today on ESPN2 during the daily edition of SportsNation; with the Blimpworthy voting results to be announced live on SportsNation on Thursday, Nov. 3.

"From the asphalt to the gridiron, Goodyear is there with superior performance. Experts such as ESPN choose Goodyear for great aerial support on television, and we want to encourage fans to get involved and do the same," said Garth Ely, Goodyear's director of brand marketing. "We plan to get consumers even further engaged with the Goodyear Blimp in coming months, as we talk about our brand and products in an exciting way."

Another Goodyear-SportsNation joint effort will give fans the opportunity to vote for the most Blimpworthy game for Nov. 26 aerial coverage with matchup announced and voting opening on November 14.

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 (NYSE: GT) is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 55 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