The collaboration between the PPA Tour and Goodyear Blimp at the 2023 CIBC PPA Tour Finals was awarded “PR Stunt of the Year” at the 2024 PRNEWS Platinum Awards Gala held in New York City on Tuesday.
This distinctive partnership outshone several high-profile contenders, including Pepsi, Infiniti Motor Company, Dippin’ Dots, and Don Julio.
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, and Jay Devilliers teamed up with Goodyear Blimp pilots for a unique experience: a flight aboard the Blimp to stage the world’s smallest pickleball match in the sky. They also hosted a pop-up pickleball match at Goodyear’s airship base in Carson, CA, with the Blimp as a backdrop.
This creative stunt achieved an impressive media reach of 301.6 million, alongside 500,000 impressions on social media.
The collaboration marked the first time the Goodyear Blimp provided aerial coverage for a professional pickleball tournament, officially branding the sport and the PPA Tour as “Blimpworthy.”
During the on-ground and in-air matches, players and pilots sported a special line of pickleball shoes created by Skechers, the official shoe sponsor of the PPA Tour. These shoes feature non-marking outsoles made with Goodyear Gold rubber technology.
Designed for enhanced durability and traction, the Goodyear rubber allows elite players to execute controlled slides on court surfaces.
Since 1955, the Goodyear Blimp has offered breathtaking aerial views of stadiums nationwide, transforming the fan experience at sporting events. To date, it has provided aerial coverage for over 2,000 sports and entertainment events.
