The PPA Tour x Goodyear Blimp collaboration at the 2023 CIBC PPA Tour Finals was named “PR Stunt of the Year” during the 2024 PRNEWS Platinum Awards Gala on Tuesday in New York City.

The unique collaboration beat out a host of notable finalists for the award, including Pepsi, Infiniti Motor Company, Dippin’ Dots and Don Julio.

Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau and Jay Devilliers joined Goodyear Blimp pilots for a flight on the Blimp to play the world’s smallest pickleball match in the sky, as well as a pop-up pickleball match at Goodyear’s airship base in Carson, CA with the Blimp looking on.

The stunt's media reach totaled 301.6 million, with social media garnering 500,000 impressions.

The collaboration commemorated the first time the Goodyear Blimp provided aerial coverage for a professional pickleball tournament and officially designated the sport and the PPA Tour as "Blimpworthy."

During the on-ground and in-air matches, pilots and players donned a special line of pickleball shoes designed by Skechers, the official shoe and sponsor of the PPA Tour. Skechers’ pickleball shoes are designed with non-marking outsoles made with Goodyear Gold rubber technology.

Built for increased durability and enhanced traction, the inclusion of Goodyear rubber allows elite players to perform controlled slides on court surfaces.

Since 1955, the Goodyear Blimp has been providing stunning aerial views of stadiums across the country, revolutionizing the way fans experience sporting events. To date, the blimp has provided aerial coverage for more than 2,000 sports and entertainment events.