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Ball Design by Waterford Crystal The Ball is
a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, and weighs approximately
1,070 pounds. The Ball is covered with a total of 504 Waterford crystal
triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4 ¾ inches
to 5 ¾ inches per side. The 504 Waterford crystal triangles
are bolted to 168 translucent triangular lexan panels which are attached
to the aluminum frame of the Ball. |
Ball Light Bulbs Developed by Philips Lighting Company
The exterior of the Ball is illuminated by 168 Philips Halogená
Brilliant Crystal light bulbs, exclusively engineered for the New Year’s
Eve Ball to enhance the Waterford crystal.
The interior of the Ball is illuminated by 432 Philips Light Bulbs (208
clear, 56 red, 56 blue, 56 green, and 56 yellow), and 96 high-intensity
strobe lights, which together create bright bubbling bursts of color. The
696 lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors are computer controlled, enabling
the Ball to produce a state-of-the-art light show of eye-dazzling colorful
patterns and a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square
HISTORY OF TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS
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The first rooftop celebration atop One Times Square, complete with a fireworks display, took place in 1904. The New York Times produced this event to inaugurate its new headquarters in Times Square and celebrate the renaming of Longacre Square to Times Square.
- The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held on December 31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of the New Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people each year.
- In 1942 and 1943 the Ball Lowering was suspended due to the wartime dimout. The crowds who still gathered in Times Square celebrated with a minute of silence followed by chimes ringing out from an amplifier truck parked at One Times Square.
- The original New Year's Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was 5 feet in diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
- The New Year's Eve Ball is the property of the building owners of One Times Square.
Come joint in the celebrations
Call to reserve a Ball Drop View Room
Book EARLY and see you just before Mid-Night of New Year's Eve