Nebraska announce plans to suspend red balloon tradition due to global helium shortage

A global helium shortage has put a halt to Nebraska‘s long-standing tradition of releasing red balloons after the university’s football team scores its first home touchdown of the year, Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts said.

“Acquiring helium in today’s day and age, some of the production of it is really challenged, and it’s been hard to get,” Alberts said on his radio show on Monday, per ESPN. “So we’ve been asked by the university, the helium that we are getting as a university, we need to use for medical purposes at [University of Nebraska Medical Center] in Omaha.

“And so we are this year not going to be providing the red balloons for the first time at Memorial Stadium.”

While the shortage is a direct result of the United States’ sanctions against Russia, Alberts also noted that releasing thousands of balloons into the atmosphere simultaneously has given rise to environmental concerns in recent years, which is at the forefront of Alberts’ attention in recent years.

In 2016, a Nebraska man filed a lawsuit against the university with the emphasis that the balloons were a health hazard to children and animals, arguing that once they deflated, would land on the ground. Before the lawsuit, however, the Cornhuskers previously switched the balloons used in the festivities “many years ago,” according to associate AD Chris Anderson.

“We’re going to work with [senior associate AD] Brandon Meier and our marketing department to try to come up with something whether it is digitally or something to designate and keep it alive,” Alberts said. “We’re working really hard for something for the future.”

Nebraska football fans have enjoyed and anticipated the annual balloon release since the 1960s. While change isn’t always accepted right away, the Cornhuskers faithful with adapt to whatever new tradition Alberts and company come up with next season.

“This isn’t a great update for those fans that love the red balloons, as do I. We’ve talked a little bit in the past about the balloons and the environmental impact and it’s a real thing. We’ve continued to do the balloons, but this year is a little bit different,” Alberts said.

“While we’re still concerned about the environmental impact of the balloons, the reality is requiring helium in today’s day and age … Some of the production of it is challenged and it’s been really hard to get. So we’ve sort of been asked by the university, the helium that we are getting from the university we need to use for medical purposes at UNMC and Omaha.”