Times Square Rings in the New with Complete Revamp of New Year’s Eve Ball
In a significant renewal not seen in a decade, Times Square has embraced a fresh face for its New Year's Eve celebration.
In a significant renewal not seen in a decade, Times Square has embraced a fresh face for its New Year’s Eve celebration. On Friday, the installation of the last of the crystal triangles that compose the iconic New Year’s Eve ball was completed. This year marks a milestone as all 2,688 crystal facets were replaced simultaneously, a feat that has not occurred in the past ten years.
The event was graced by prominent figures including rapper Pitbull and inventor Joy Mangano, who joined the event organizers in placing the final crystals on the ball atop One Times Square. From this high vantage, the 11,875-pound (5,386-kilogram) geodesic sphere will make its luminary descent to usher in the new year.
The tradition of the Times Square ball drop dates back to 1907, when Jacob Starr, a young immigrant and metalworker, crafted the original ball. Weighing 700 pounds (318 kilograms) and measuring 5 feet (1.52 meters) in diameter, the initial ball was a simple yet effective design of iron and wood, illuminated by 100 25-watt light bulbs. Over the century, six iterations of the ball have marked the evolution of this New Year’s Eve tradition.
Interestingly, the ball drop was paused only during the years 1942 and 1943, amidst the World War II “dimout” regulations that blacked out the city to shield it from potential enemy attacks. Instead of the vibrant light display, those wartime New Years were marked by a solemn moment of silence, followed by chimes from the base of One Times Square, offering a poignant contrast to the usual festivities.
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