U.S. National Hot Air Balloon National Championship Stays in Longview Longer

LONGVIEW — The Balloon Federation of America’s U.S. National Championship will remain in Longview for a 4th year. Officials with Longview’s Great Texas Balloon Race made that announcement yesterday. The championship had originally been set for three years. But a bid was submitted for a fourth year and that bid has been accepted by the national organization.

Bill Bussey, Great Texas Balloon Race founder and championship liaison tells the Longview News-Journal, “I am beyond pleased with the extra year for the Hot Air Balloon National Championship, 2015, which has been granted to us by the Balloon Federation of America. The top winners of the 2014 and 2015 Nationals will make up the team that represents the United States at the world Championship in 2016. This is truly a dream come true for Longview. And we are very proud of the boost this provides to the local economy.”