Eight football fields is a lot, but it's hardly impractical; runways at international airports require much greater areas than that. And the fuel costs for ferrying passengers on oceanic cruise liners is no doubt similarly colossal. Bearing in mind that I'm talking about a luxury trans-Atlantic airship, of the kind that people would pay hand over fist for. I've heard about the helium shortage (although I have yet to see it translated into a shortage of balloons at parties). I suppose we can rule hydrogen out as an alternative for obvious reasons. Are there any other lighter than air and comparatively inert gases that might function as a viable alternative?
Runways at international airports are multi-use. The Goodyear needs that much space just to sit. Nothing else can come close. And good luck taking off or landing in any kind of wind. Ocean liners can (A) haul a bunch of people (B) run on bunker oil. Blimps don't run on bunker oil, they run on avgas. As such, "luxury" is the only kind you'll get. And no, your choices are hydrogen, helium and hot air. Hot air is its own problem.