How do you get a ride on a Goodyear blimp?
How do you get a ride on a Goodyear blimp?
It's not that easy. You can't just buy a ticket and show up at Wingfoot Lake.
Blimp rides are not for sale. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s airships maintain busy schedules, providing television coverage for sports and entertainment events and making high-profile appearances.
Few passengers get to take rides.
'The majority of blimp flights are reserved for Goodyear customers, by invitation for specialcircumstances or for those who purchase a blimp certificate at a charity auction,' the Akron company explains in its media kit.
Akron-based Wingfoot One, christened in 2014, has provided video of the NBA Finals, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, Daytona 500, PGA Championship and College Football Playoff National Championship. Wingfoot Two (2016) is headquartered near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Wingfoot Three (2018) takes flight near Los Angeles.
Obviously, space is limited on blimps. The gondolas normally seat eight passengers and two pilots. Passengers need invitations, and the demand is high. Corporate partners, media members and charity auction winners are among the common recipients.
Your best bet may be to win a blimp ride at a charity event. Goodyear directs the public interest in blimp flights toward nonprofit groups in the communities near its airship bases.
'Goodyear donates passenger flight certificates to charities across the U.S. to auction, which turns thepublic's interest in flights into funds that directly benefit the charities,' the company notes.
Nonprofit charitable organizations can submit a request for a 'ride certificate' at Goodyear's website. The Akron company said it has helped groups raise more than $1.5 million over the past five years through auctions or raffles of blimp flights.
Local history: Akron runaway balloon caused panic in sky
Requests will be considered if Goodyear determines that a nonprofit group's mission and reputation are consistent with its own, and the charitable organization:
∎ Holds current Internal Revenue 501(c3) designation documentation or similar.
∎ Is willing to provide Goodyear with adequate promotional placement within its materials.
∎ Provides the required information through the request form.
Groups should submit ride certificate requests about four to six months before an event date. A committee will review each request, and it could take four months to make a decision.
Even if approved, the flights are dependent on good weather and other commitments, so it could take awhile to land a flight.
Until that day arrives, prospective riders will just have to admire the blimp from the ground.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How do you get a ride on a Goodyear blimp in Akron?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Here's Why Micron (MU) is a Strong Momentum Stock
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Many investors also have a go-to methodology that helps guide their buy and sell decisions. One way to find winning stocks based on your preferred way of investing is to use the Zacks Style Scores, which are indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing types: value, growth, and momentum. For momentum investors, upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook take precedent, so they'll want to zero in on the Momentum Style Score. This Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates. Idaho-based Micron Technology has established itself as one of the leading worldwide providers of semiconductor memory solutions. MU boasts a Momentum Style Score of B and VGM Score of B, and holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating. Shares of Micron has seen some interesting price action recently; the stock is up 6.9% over the past one week and up 32.4% over the past four weeks. And in the last one-year period, MU has lost 11.4%. As for the stock's trading volume, 18,061,174 shares on average were traded over the last 20 days. Momentum investors also pay close attention to a company's earnings. For MU, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.08 to $6.93 per share for 2025. MU boasts an average earnings surprise of 10.7%. With strong earnings growth, a good Zacks Rank, and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, investors should think about adding MU to their portfolios. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
VBTX Q1 Deep Dive: Deposit Remixing, Cost Control, and Cautious Loan Growth Shape Results
Texas-based bank holding company Veritex Holdings (NASDAQGM:VBTX) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 4.2% year on year to $110.2 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.54 per share was 5.2% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy VBTX? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $110.2 million vs analyst estimates of $110.2 million (4.2% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $0.54 vs analyst estimates of $0.51 (5.2% beat) Market Capitalization: $1.32 billion Veritex Holdings' first quarter results were well received by the market, as the company delivered revenue growth and exceeded Wall Street's non-GAAP profit expectations. Management attributed the quarter's performance to disciplined deposit remixing, tighter expense control, and continued balance sheet strength. CEO Malcolm Holland emphasized initiatives to reduce high-cost funding and increase lower-cost relationship deposits, while also highlighting stable credit metrics and rising tangible book value. Chief Financial Officer Terry Earley noted, 'Fee income continues to build momentum across every category. Increased attention to expenses is showing encouraging results, and loan production has increased meaningfully.' Looking forward, management is focused on maintaining net interest margin (NIM) stability through ongoing deposit repricing efforts and further investments in commercial banking talent, even as loan growth remains muted. The company expects loan production to translate into growth in 2026, while remaining cautious about payoff trends and broader economic uncertainties. Earley cautioned that, although expense discipline remains a priority, some increase is expected due to strategic hiring. Will Holford, Chief Operating Officer, pointed to growing momentum in government-guaranteed lending and fee income, stating, 'You don't see it all yet, but you can feel the momentum. We're not hanging on one area. Every single area is contributing.' Management attributed first quarter results to deposit portfolio remixing, cost reductions, and stable credit, while acknowledging continued headwinds from elevated loan payoffs and muted loan growth. Deposit Remixing Success: Veritex reduced its reliance on higher-cost brokered and public deposits, replacing them with lower-cost relationship deposits. This shift contributed to a decline in overall deposit costs and helped expand net interest margin, as highlighted by the management team during the call. Expense Discipline: Management maintained a strong focus on controlling non-interest expenses, resulting in a lower operating efficiency ratio. While some expense growth is anticipated due to ongoing investments in commercial banker hires, the company does not expect spending to return to previous high levels. Muted Loan Growth: Elevated loan payoffs continued to offset strong loan production, resulting in a net decrease in total loans during the quarter. Management views this as an industry-wide challenge and cited a robust loan pipeline that is expected to support growth in 2026. Stable Credit Quality: Chief Credit Officer Curtis Anderson noted improvement in criticized and past-due loans, with charge-offs remaining below forecast. The increase in non-performing assets was largely related to two specific loans in retail and office real estate, which are expected to reach resolution by early third quarter. Capital Actions and Shareholder Returns: The company increased its quarterly dividend by 10% and repurchased 377,000 shares, with minimal tangible book value dilution. Management remains opportunistic regarding further buybacks, particularly if shares trade below tangible book value. Veritex's outlook centers on navigating muted loan growth, maintaining NIM stability, and growing fee income through government-guaranteed lending and C&I expansion. Loan Growth Dependent on Production and Payoffs: Management expects loan growth to remain flat for the year, with the potential for expansion in 2026 as a substantial loan pipeline converts to funded balances. Elevated payoffs, particularly in commercial real estate, remain a key headwind. Net Interest Margin and Deposit Strategy: The company anticipates stable NIM through continued deposit repricing and remixing, even as interest rate uncertainty and repricing of maturing certificates of deposit present risks. A large portion of the deposit book carries short maturities, allowing Veritex to react quickly to rate changes. Fee Income and Government Lending Momentum: Management is optimistic about further growth in fee-based income streams, especially from Small Business Administration (SBA) and other government-guaranteed lending. Investments in specialized lending teams and treasury management are expected to diversify revenue and offset lower loan growth. In the coming quarters, our team will be watching (1) whether loan growth materializes as the current pipeline is funded and payoffs moderate, (2) the pace of deposit cost declines as CDs reprice and remixing efforts continue, and (3) further growth in fee income, particularly from SBA and government-guaranteed lending. Progress on credit resolution and expense management will also be key signposts. Veritex Holdings currently trades at $24.30, up from $22.09 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cedar Point, Great Wolf Lodge, and more Ohio water parks to help escape the summer heat
Ohio's sweltering temperatures may have you looking for places to cool off. Fortunately, the state is home to some of the nation's largest water parks, resorts, and vacation getaways, providing plenty of ways to beat the heat. Here's where Ohioans can take a dip this summer. Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky is home to Cedar Point Shores outdoor water park, an 18-acre waterpark filled with plunging slides and thrill-seeking experiences for guests. The water park also offers kid-friendly areas with small slides, geysers and fountains. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets: Starting at $50 Address: 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, OH 44870 Website: Cedar Point's 38,000-square-foot indoor waterpark resort features massive water slides and a wave pool for those looking for a break from the summer sun. The resort boasts 237 newly renovated guest rooms and suites that feature a tropical theme. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets: Check here for hotel package rates Address: 2001 Cleveland Road W, Sandusky, OH 44870 Website: Great Wolf Lodge has two Ohio locations: Sandusky and Cincinnati. The indoor waterpark is set to 84 degrees year-round. The Sandusky park covers 33,000 square feet, while Cincinnati's building is even bigger, at 50,000 square feet. The waterpark offers activities for everyone, from toddlers to children and teens to an adults-only hot tub area. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets: Range from $49.99 to $79.99 Address: 4600 Milan Road, Sandusky, OH 44870; and 2501 Great Wolf Drive, Mason, OH 45040 Website: and With more than 50 activities, including 36 waterslides, Soak City Water Park at Kings Island offers activities for both kids and adults, including the Tropical Plunge, which has six different waterslide experiences. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets: Included with the price of admission to Kings Island Address: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island, OH 45034 Website: The only water park located in Port Clinton (just minutes from Cedar Point in Sandusky), the family-owned water park features a kid's tree house with four slides, a lazy river and heated pools. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2025 hours subject to change Tickets: Daily Mega tickets $67.20; Daily Dry Ticket $44.80 Address: 1530 S Danbury Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452 Website: Rated the No. 1 best indoor water park of 2025 by USA TODAY 10Best readers, Kalahari's Sandusky-based resort boasts 173,000 square feet of waterpark activities, including a lazy river, wave simulator, and waterslides. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday Tickets: Day passes can range from $74.99 to $137.99 Address: 7000 Kalahari Drive, Sandusky, OH 44870 Website: Located in Navarre (about 40 minutes South of Akron), Baylor Beach Park's Water Park features a two-acre water park and swimming lake with log rolls, slides and fountains as well as a separate one acre lake for paddleboats, aquabikes and more. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Tickets: $17.00 Monday - Thursday; $19.00 Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Holidays Address: 8777 Manchester Ave. S.W. Navarre, Ohio 44662 Website: Deemed Ohio's largest water park, Zoombezi Bay is part of the Columbus Zoo family of parks, offering a number of waterslides as well as other attractions like the Cyclone, wave pools, and the Roaring Rapids Action River. For adults, the park offers Croctail Creek & the Sandbar, its walk-up or swim-up bar featuring a heated lounge pool with in-water seating. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. See the complete hours here. Tickets: Day passes range from $31.99 to $34.99 online, or $43.99 to $46.99 at the gate. Address: 4850 W. Powell Road, Powell, OH 43065 Website: This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: See the list of Ohio water parks, including Cedar Point and more
