AKRON—Goodyear is building on its 60-year relationship with college football with its new "Be Blimpworthy" ad that celebrates the hard work, determination and grit required to achieve the biggest personal and professional goals.
The new television spot centers on a young man who dreams of playing football in one of college football's biggest venues as the blimp flies overhead. The ad, instead of focusing on his accomplishments, details the hard work and determination that were involved in achieving that goal.
" 'Be Blimpworthy' is rooted in the idea that the blimp only shows up for the most marquee matchups, a level only reached by hard work and perseverance," Todd Macsuga, general manager of brand marketing at Goodyear, said in a statement.
The 30-second version of the ad will debut Sept. 1 during games aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
Goodyear will continue its support of the college football's opening weekend Sept. 3 with the first complete game streaming viewing option as Marty Smith and Ryan McGee broadcast the Florida State Seminoles and Virginia Tech Hokies matchup from inside the Goodyear Blimp. The game will be available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.
Goodyear began providing aerial coverage of college football games during the 1955 Rose Bowl. Since then, as the blimp has continued to provide bird's-eye views of games across the nation, the tire maker signed on as a title sponsor of the Cotton Bowl Classic, played at A T&T stadium in Arlington, Texas.
This college football season, three of Goodyear's newest blimps will fly over venues around country. The newest blimp in the Goodyear fleet, Wingfoot Three, is set to be christened Aug. 30.