LINCOLN, Neb. (SportingNews.com) – It’s a tradition that goes back to the 1940s at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium — the release of red balloons after the Huskers score their first touchdown in a game.
But it might soon come to a close. A Nebraska resident has sued the school, saying the release of a few thousand balloons poses a threat to young children, wildlife and the environment after they fall back to Earth.
Randall S. Krause, of Omaha, filed the lawsuit Monday. In the 14-page filing obtained by ESPN, Krause alleges the decades-old tradition essentially amounts to “the open dumping of solid waste.”
The tradition has grown over the years and now includes the English version of the 1983 German pop song, “99 Luftballons.”
It’s not the first time the tradition has been challenged. A Nebraska environmentalist started a petition on change.org in 2014, but garnered only 587 signatures with a goal of 1,000.
Nebraska also temporarily scaled back the traditon in 2012 when there was a nationwide helium shortage. Instead of releasing between 4,000-5,000 balloons, only half that amount was released after the Huskers scored their first touchdown in the season opener against Southern Miss.
A university spokesman declined comment to ESPN. The school uses balloons made of biodegradable latex with environmentally friendly cotton strings.
