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50 Greatest Event Flops in History

FLOP No. 4 – Balloonfest ’86 (1986)

GatheringPoint.news: The 50 Biggest Flops in Event History

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David Adler
Aug 24, 2025
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The Promise: Cleveland attempted to break a world record by releasing 1.5 million helium balloons in a synchronized citywide event, staged as a feel-good PR stunt.

What Happened: Wind and weather pushed the balloons back over the city, clogging Lake Erie and surrounding areas. Airports closed. Highways were jammed. Resc…

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