Gina Kemmerer, Senior
New York City’s Ball Drop brings together millions of people around the world to countdown and celebrate the New Year. However, many don't know of the origin and history of this world-renowned event.
According to Balldrop.com, in 1903, the New York Times opened their latest headquarters, which was a building in what was known as Longacre Square (and would later be renamed as Times Square). It would become the second largest building in the city and opened on December 31, 1903. The owner of the paper, Adolph Ochs, would set off fireworks on top of the building every New Year's Eve, which went on for four years, and until he wanted to create a bigger display. He hired an electrician to create an iron ball 5 feet in diameter and covered in lightbulbs to be lowered from the flagpole on the New York Times building roof. The first drop was in 1907, and it was lowered by hand with a rope, and a man keeping track of the time with a stopwatch stood at the bottom.
In 1920, a new 400 pound iron ball was created, but it was later replaced in 1955 with a computerized one that featured rhinestones and strobe lights. As the new millennium was getting closer, a 6 ft ball that weighed 1,070 pounds was created. It was covered in 504 Waterford Crystal triangles, 168 halogen light bulbs, and 432 more colored bulbs were on the inside including strobe lights and spinning mirrors.
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Ball Drop, the fifth ball was designed in 2008. 6 feet in length and 1,212 pounds, this computerized ball used leds, Waterford Crystal triangles, and was able to display 16.7 million colors. However, it was only used once and was replaced with the sixth and latest ball we use today. First dropping in 2009, the newest ball kept the design from 2008 but is a whopping 12 feet long and weighs in at 11,875 pounds! The flagpole was also modified and is 475 feet above the ground.
All throughout history, the New York City Ball Drop has attracted enormous crowds to countdown and celebrate the New Year and bring even more viewers on television. But for the first time in 114 years, there will be no crowd to watch the drop in person at Times Square. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ball Drop will be held virtual to ring in 2020. Times Square will be cordoned off from the public with the exception of broadcasting teams.
(Photo Courtesy: Insider.com)
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