One Hundred Thousand Balloons

The balloon drops at almost every Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention in the last four decades have been the work of Treb Heining, a man who has a claim to creating the entire balloon decorating industry. He’s engineered balloon events at Super Bowls and Olympics opening ceremonies and he’s been in charge of the Times Square NYE confetti drop for the last 30 years. He invented the balloon arch! Turning 70 this year, he got his start at age 15 as a “balloon boy” at Disneyland, selling balloons to passersby in the park.

Treb led a crew of balloon professionals and local volunteers as they inflated and tied, by hand over the course of three days, approximately 100,000 balloons to be mounted in the ceiling and dropped on the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

 

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Boxes of red, white, and blue Sempertex ballons stand on a pallet waiting to be inflated in the Fiserv Forum where they will be dropped next week on the last night of the 2024 Republican National Convention, seen here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. Sempertex balloons are a latex balloon manufactured in Colombia, which balloon organizer Treb Heining says are some of the best balloons available. Heining has been in charge of ballon drops for the last 9 RNCs, dating back to the 80s, and has always used American-made balloons from the Pioneer Balloon company, but after the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2023, Heining said he had to find a new source for balloons.
Treb Heining (center), organizer of the balloon drop, inflates balloons with volunteers in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. After inflating, the balloons are thrown into a large fabric funnel that feeds the balloons into net bags that hold the balloons until the drop on the last day of the convention. The volunteers are a mixture of event decoration professionals that are personal friends of Treb Heining, who has organized the balloon drops at the last 9 RNCs, and local high school students (and recent graduates) who are serving as city ambassadors during the convention. The balloon inflation crew filled over 100,000 balloons for the drop on the final night of the convention.
Volunteers inflate balloons in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. After inflating, the balloons are thrown into a large fabric funnel that feeds the balloons into net bags that hold the balloons until the drop on the last day of the convention. The volunteers are a mixture of event decoration professionals that are personal friends of Treb Heining, who has organized the balloon drops at the last 9 RNCs, and local high school students (and recent graduates) who are serving as city ambassadors during the convention. Treb Heining developed the funnel filling system for the first convention during which he oversaw the balloon drop, the 1988 Republican National Convention. The balloon inflation crew filled over 100,000 balloons for the drop on the final night of the convention.
Treb Heining (lower left), organizer of the balloon drop, inflates balloons with volunteers in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. After inflating, the balloons are thrown into a large fabric funnel that feeds the balloons into net bags that hold the balloons until the drop on the last day of the convention. The volunteers are a mixture of event decoration professionals that are personal friends of Treb Heining, who has organized the balloon drops at the last 9 RNCs, and local high school students (and recent graduates) who are serving as city ambassadors during the convention. The balloon inflation crew filled over 100,000 balloons for the drop on the final night of the convention.
A bag of balloons waits to be inflated as volunteers blow up balloons in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024.
A volunteer ties a balloon as they are inflated in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. Most of the volunteers taped fingers to prevent blistering from the friction of tying so many balloons.
Misty Milner, of New York, guides inflated balloons into a large net bag that will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. Milner, and her father, are part of a group of event decoration professionals and personal friends of Treb Heining, long-time organizer of political convention balloon drops, who traveled to Milwaukee to work on the balloon inflation and installation. She said it was her first convention, but not her first time decorating a large event.
Treb Heining, CEO of Glasshouse Balloon, has been in charge of the balloon drop at the past 9 Republican National Conventions and many DNCs. He is seen here with large stylized balloons that have been inflated but not yet mounted in the rafters of the Fiserv Forum where they will be dropped from the ceiling during the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, seen on Thu., July 11, 2024. Heining started in the balloon industry as a walking balloon salesman at Disneyland in his native Anaheim, California, and now supplies balloons for many Disney properties around the world. He is the inventor of the Balloon Arch and has designed large event experiences including balloon releases at Super Bowls and Olympics opening ceremonies and, for more than 30 years, the annual New Years Eve confetti drop in New York's Times Square.
Volunteers refill a large net bag with spilled balloons on the convention floor before it will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Members of the balloon inflation team work with union riggers to lift and secure the net bags filled with the balloons in the ceiling of the arena.
Hoses carry air from compressors to an inflation apparatus as balloons are inflated in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. The balloon inflation crew filled over 100,000 balloons for the drop on the final night of the convention.
Balloon team member Quan Dang, of Los Angeles, Calif., awaits net bags filled with balloons to get ready to be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. Dang says this is the third convention for which he's helped out with the balloons.
Inflated balloons fill net bags as they await being lifted to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Inflated balloons fill net bags as they await being lifted to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Inflated balloons fill net bags as they await being lifted to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Seen sitting and standing among the rafters, union riggers, under the guidance of Treb Heining's team, lift and secure net bags filled with inflated balloons in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Inflated balloons in net bags are lifted and rigged to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Union riggers, working under the supervision of Treb Heining's team, secure the balloons in place among the rafters. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
A union rigger attaches ropes to net bags filled with inflated balloons to be lifted and secured to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
A union rigger holds a net bag filled with inflated balloons before it is lifted and secured to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Seen sitting and standing among the rafters, union riggers, under the guidance of Treb Heining's team, lift and secure net bags filled with inflated balloons in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Volunteers inflate balloons in the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. After inflating, the balloons are thrown into a large fabric funnel that feeds the balloons into net bags that hold the balloons until the drop on the last day of the convention. The volunteers are a mixture of event decoration professionals that are personal friends of Treb Heining, who has organized the balloon drops at the last 9 RNCs, and local high school students (and recent graduates) who are serving as city ambassadors during the convention. Treb Heining developed the funnel filling system for the first convention during which he oversaw the balloon drop, the 1988 Republican National Convention. The balloon inflation crew filled over 100,000 balloons for the drop on the final night of the convention.
Inflated balloons in net bags are lifted and rigged to the ceiling of the Fiserv Forum for next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Union riggers, working under the supervision of Treb Heining's team, secure the balloons in place among the rafters. Organizers estimate that 100,000 balloons (filling approximately 50 to 55 net bags) will be used in the drop on the final night of the convention.
Misty Milner, of New York, guides inflated balloons into a large net bag that will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 11, 2024. Milner, and her father, are part of a group of event decoration professionals and personal friends of Treb Heining, long-time organizer of political convention balloon drops, who traveled to Milwaukee to work on the balloon inflation and installation. She said it was her first convention, but not her first time decorating a large event.
Balloon inflation volunteer David Magowan, of Buffalo, New York, helps move net bags filled with balloons to the convention floor before they will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Members of the balloon inflation team work with union riggers to lift and secure the net bags filled with the balloons in the ceiling of the arena. Magowan is one of a group of friends and event decoration professionals who organizer Treb Heining invites to help with big events like the conventions. Magowan works at Balloon Masters, an event decoration business in Buffalo, New York. "My dad met Treb probably 30 or 35 years ago," Magowan said. This is second convention helping out with the balloon drop.
Volunteers refill a large net bag with spilled balloons on the convention floor before it will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Members of the balloon inflation team work with union riggers to lift and secure the net bags filled with the balloons in the ceiling of the arena.
Members of the balloon inflation team move net bags filled with balloons to the convention floor before they will be lifted to the ceiling in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024. Members of the balloon inflation team work with union riggers to lift and secure the net bags filled with the balloons in the ceiling of the arena.
Balloons, both inflated and not, are seen at the balloon inflation station during a break in the process of inflating 100,000 balloons in the Fiserv Forum for the balloon drop on the last day of next week's 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 12, 2024.
Ballons hang from the ceiling in anticipation of the final night's ballon drop on the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Tue., July 16, 2024. The theme of the night was "Make America Safe Again" and many of former president Donald Trump's rivals gave speeches endorsing him as the party's nominee.
Ballons hang from the ceiling in anticipation of the final night's ballon drop on the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Tue., July 16, 2024. The theme of the night was "Make America Safe Again" and many of former president Donald Trump's rivals gave speeches endorsing him as the party's nominee.
A deflated balloon lays on the floor inside the Fiserv Forum on the day before the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Sun., July 14, 2024. The balloons will be dropped at the end of the last night of the convention.

The balloons are dropped on the final night

Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Former president Donald Trump, vice presidential running mate JD Vance stand on stage among balloons after the balloon drop at the end of the night after Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
A man is interviewed on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Former president Donald Trump, vice presidential running mate JD Vance stand on stage among balloons after the balloon drop at the end of the night after Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons on the stage after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons fall from the ceiling in the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
A worker pops balloons for cleanup after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
A worker pops balloons for cleanup after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 19, 2024.
Popped balloons on the delegate floor after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 19, 2024.
Balloons in a bathroom after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
People walk through balloons in a backstage hallway after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons in a backstage hallway after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Balloons in a backstage hallway after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Former president Donald Trump, vice presidential running mate JD Vance stand on stage among balloons after the balloon drop at the end of the night after Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Thu., July 18, 2024.
Photographers Alex Wroblewski (from left), Nick Oxford, and Nate Gowdy, work among balloons in the Digital Darkroom (media photographer workroom) after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 19, 2024.
Balloons in an elevator after the balloon drop at the end of the night after former president Donald Trump formally accepted his nomination as the Republican party candidate at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on Fri., July 19, 2024.

The convention ceiling, before and after the drop.