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Goodyear Blimp kicks off 100th anniversary with a tour across US: How to win a flight

The famous Goodyear Blimp will celebrate its 100th birthday in a very special way, as 2025 will see the blimp crisscross the country with more than 100 stops across North America and Europe.

Goodyear announced in a press release that it would be kicking off its tour at the 111th annual Rose Bowl Game, held on New Year's Day.

“The event will also mark the 70th anniversary of aerial coverage, a concept the Goodyear Blimp pioneered over the stadium in 1955,” the release said.

The blimp’s 100th anniversary is June 3, but celebrations will last throughout the year. Goodyear said the tour will visit more than 100 cities across North America and Europe.

They say the blimp will make appearances at sports events as well as music and other cultural festivals. A line of blimp merchandise to celebrate the Goodyear Blimp’s anniversary will also be available for people to purchase.

Here's what to know about the Goodyear Blimp’s 100th-year celebration.

How to win a chance to fly on the Goodyear Blimp

According to Goodyear, only 0.0006% of Americans have ever flown on the famous blimp.

That number will rise ever so slightly, as the company will give three lucky Americans a chance to join the exclusive club and win a flight on the blimp.

The promotion is part of the “Buy for a Chance to Fly” sweepstakes, where each winner will receive a certificate for two passengers to take a flight on the iconic blimp. Goodyear says the prize also includes a $3,000 voucher for travel and accommodations to one of Goodyear’s three U.S. airship bases.

“The Goodyear Blimp is an enduring symbol of both nostalgia and innovation for fans around the world,” Mark Stewart, CEO and president of Goodyear, said in a press release.

People can enter the sweepstakes by purchasing Goodyear tires between Jan. 1 and April 10, 2025.

Goodyear's 100-year history

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 in Akron, Ohio and has been producing tires for the last 125 years.

Goodyear is also known around the world for its racing tires, providing tires for NASCAR and other racing series.

How many blimps are there?

A Goodyear blimp is moored outside the Wingfoot Lake hangar in Suffield Township. Akron, Ohio is the world headquarters of the rubber company.
A Goodyear blimp is moored outside the Wingfoot Lake hangar in Suffield Township. Akron, Ohio is the world headquarters of the rubber company.

Blimps were once considered the future of transportation, but with the dawn of airplanes, they became less practical to use. According to Readers Digest, as of 2021, there are about 25 blimps left in the world.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Goodyear Blimp 100th anniversary: Tour, how to win a blimp flight