Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta looked to expand grounds in 1992

Officials sought larger land in Albuquerque for the annual gathering in 1992. The search began to handle massive crowds and hundreds of visiting aircraft. Reporter Joe Muñoz covered the effort that year.

The nine-day event drew 100,000 more visitors in 1992. More than 700 hot air balloons filled the sky. They drew cheers from 1.5 million people.

Photographer Adrian Smith has traveled to balloon events across the globe. He explained why the city draws so many fans.

“I think mainly because of the sheer size and, secondly, more importantly, the shapes. There’s nowhere else in the world where there’s a gathering of so many special shapes.”

Organizers said the existing launch field was no longer big enough. Crowds and balloons jammed the launch site during the event. Leaders evaluated different sites across the Albuquerque area.

Finding a new location presented technical challenges for planners. They faced weather limits.

“We have to stay within a certain area because of the flying conditions and the ‘box’ effect and will the conditions prevail in other areas.”

A state-funded study looked for a new 400-to-500-acre home. Officials noted that free parking makes the event run much smoother.

Balloon Fiesta Park serves as an outdoor event venue in Albuquerque. Local geography creates unique wind patterns known as the box effect. These atmospheric patterns allow balloonists to navigate back toward their launch points.

The event grew steadily for 21 years leading up to 1992. Organizers stated they ultimately want every special-shaped balloon ever made drifting over Albuquerque.