1974 didn’t feature a World three Balloon Fiestas, was coming to the realization Championship, but the budding Balloon he needed to devote more time to his own budding 1974Fiesta didn’t miss a beat. The fi rst ballooning business. People loved seeing balloons, but “stand-alone” event – and the fi rst to it was obvious a lot of changes were needed to assure offi cially bear the name Albuquerque International the Balloon Fiesta’s long-term solvency and success. Balloon Fiesta – featured 111 balloons. The Balloon Fiesta once again was held at the State Fairgrounds, but it was becoming increasingly apparent that this wasn’t an ideal location. Balloons headed south inevitably encroached on the airport and Kirtland Air Force Base, and as Albuquerque grew, landing sites were becoming scarce – a refrain that impacts Balloon Fiesta to this day. Sid Cutter, who ran the fi rst ® Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 66