Tradition restored: Balloons make their way back to Memorial Stadium
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska Athletic Department announced Thursday that balloons will make their long-awaited return to Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Huskers announced the restored tradition on X:
Touchdown, Nebraska pic.twitter.com/IkaaPn6FwP
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) September 5, 2024
Husker Athletics also sent this statement to Channel 8:
“Saturday’s football game with Colorado and the events surrounding the weekend have been anticipated by Husker fans for months. As we celebrate the rich tradition between the two schools and honor our 1994 national championship team, Nebraska Athletics will bring back a Memorial Stadium tradition of releasing balloons after the Huskers’ first touchdown. Red balloons will be distributed at no cost in and around Memorial Stadium by Husker Athletics staff. Going forward, we will consider bringing back the balloons for select special occasions.”
In 2016, one man sued the university to halt the balloon release, saying it violated federal laws related to waste.
The man argued that the balloons presented a threat to wildlife.
Ex-Athletic Director Trev Alberts also said it had been “challenging” to acquire helium for the balloons, and that the university decided to use helium for medical purposes only.
In 2022, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln student government voted to end the tradition altogether.
