New Year's Eve Happens Here

"3, 2, 1—Happy New Year!" The revelers erupt in unified, momentous joy, signaling a new beginning, and the chance for reinvention in the year to come. When the clock strikes midnight on the first day of the new year, our hope is renewed as we set new goals, telling ourselves, "This year will be the year." As we reflect on the past, we dream for the future, making our new year's wish. And what better place to start anew than New York City—The City that Never Sleeps—with dreams bigger than any building and an unstoppable energy that fuels the city? Not to mention, New York is brimming with unrivaled creativity, aspirational authenticity, and an ever-evolving landscape that's as much a playground as it is a proving ground. That's why if you ask us here at Jamestown—the owner, manager, and current developer of historic One Times Square—"Where is the best place to ring in the New Year?" our answer will always be, "Here."

For starters, there's the unmistakable New York energy. Secondly, the time-honored tradition of the Times Square Ball Drop—and comradery that comes with it—have made New York the place to be for NYE since 1904. Season after season, year after year, revelers gather in Times Square to dance, kiss, sing, and cheer. We're proud to play an integral role in the celebration.

But what is it about New York that makes the city and the Ball Drop so special? Why is New York unlike any other, and why does every network broadcast the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, making it the most televised and highest-ranking event since 1977? To answer these questions, we'll need to go back in time. Join us as we discuss the creation of the world-famous Ball Drop—as well as the creation of a special place we call Manhattan—and many New Yorkers call home. Over the years, New York has become synonymous with New Year's Eve for a reason. Let us entertain you with a short story that delves into the rise of New York as the world's premier New Year's celebration.

The story begins in 1904 when Adolph Ochs, the then-editor of the New York Times, was dreaming of a publicity stunt that would accomplish two things: 1) bring more people to the uptown area of the city—to showcase the newly completed headquarters of the paper—and 2) generate some positive public relations for the company. In previous years, the signaling of the new year began with a bell-ringing ceremony at the Trinity Church located downtown. (Fun fact: the phrase "Ringing in the New Year" comes from the historical tradition of ringing bells to signify the release of the old and the welcoming of the new.) However, Mr. Ochs had wanted to bring the event uptown to Longacre Square—the area we know today as Times Square—with something that was more festive and exciting: fireworks. It was surely a sight to be seen. The night sky lighting up with fireworks. Unfortunately, fireworks were soon banned from the event by the New York Fire Department—some sources suggest there may have been dynamite involved—leaving Mr. Ochs with a dilemma: he now needed to substitute the fireworks with something just as exhilarating or he risked losing the celebratory reputation he had attained thus far. As a replacement, he looked to the maritime tradition of dropping a ball to set time. Since proper timekeeping is vital to navigation on the open ocean, large time balls have been used for centuries—located atop buildings in major cities and ports around the globe—to allow offshore mariners something visible from afar that would allow them to mirror their watches to a unified standard. Adolph decided he would adopt this idea—but he would execute it in a bigger, better, more "New York" kind of way.

To help his marketing aspiration become a yearly conversation, Adolph enlisted a "young immigrant metalworker" by the name of Jacob Starr—who also happened to be the founder of Artkraft Strauss Sign Design and Consulting (which is still in business today). Together, Adolph and Jacob got to work on the planning of a never-before-seen rooftop event. The crux of this celebration was a five-foot-diameter ball constructed by Jacob, made of iron and wood, and adorned with one hundred 25-watt bulbs, weighing in at a whopping seven hundred pounds (and although this may sound heavy, it pales in comparison to the weight of the current Ball—more on this later).

When New Year's Eve rolled around on December 31st, 1906, the event was a dynamite success (despite the ban of actual dynamite). And, every year since the Ball Drop of 1907—barring the wartime blackouts of 1942 and '43—the historic Times Square Ball Drop has packed tens of thousands of revelers into the celebratory space of Times Square, with millions more tuning in remotely, to witness the historic Ball descend atop One Times Square. Over the years, the Ball has undergone many exciting and oftentimes necessary redesigns to keep up with the times and accommodate the ever-growing revelers.

In 1920, Jacob replaced the first Ball with one made entirely of iron; it was less of a fire hazard and more durable this way. In 1955, an all-aluminum Ball was introduced to dramatically cut the weight down to only 150 pounds (the lightest ball of them all). In 1981, the Ball was reshaped and embellished with red and green lighting to create the classic "Red Apple Ball," which coincided with the now-famous "I Love NY" campaign. In 1989, the apple was replaced with the more traditional ball; it was back to white lights and a perfectly spherical appeal. In 1995, the "Glitter Ball"—complete with rhinestones and strobe lighting—was introduced, along with the use of computer technology that allowed the Ball to be lowered automatically for the first time in the celebration's history. (Prior to this, the lowering was done by hand.

In 1999, the new "Millennium Ball" made its debut with Philips lighting and 504 Waterford Crystal triangles—and despite the widespread fear of Y2K and computer failure—the event went off without a hitch. In 2007, to commemorate the Ball Drop's 100-year Anniversary, a special "Centennial Ball" was created with 672 Waterford Crystal triangles and 9,576 Philips color-changing LED lights—and with a diameter of six feet—the Centennial Ball weighs in at 1,415 pounds.

Today's Ball is a permanent fixture of One Times Square at 12 feet in diameter and 11,875 pounds or nearly six tons, giving it the name "the Big Ball." With the help of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles bolted to 672 LED modules attached to the aluminum frame of the Ball, the Big Ball can display 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns creating a kaleidoscope effect that dazzles visitors in Times Square all year long.

Now, eight balls and 116 years later—we are proud to ring in 2023 with the unveiling of the new Waterford Crystal "Gift of Love" triangle design and a sixty-second reveler-supported countdown that will stay with you for a lifetime. In other words, we would love to see you there—for a one minute countdown that will become an everlasting memory.

But, as every New Yorker or visitor knows, the celebration itself is just one part of what makes New Year's in New York so memorable and extraordinary. Let's not forget about the undeniable New York energy, which has its own place in history. Again, New York isn't called The City That Never Sleeps for nothing; there's an energy here that cannot be found just anywhere. However, there is more to New York's irrefutable energy than bright lights, big events, and the Ball Drop. It may be the bedrock itself that contributes to the city's distinctive charge.

Beneath the modern hustle and bustle of Manhattan—the 22.7-square-mile island that is currently home to 1.63 million residents—lies a geological layer known as the "Manhattan Schist." Formed more than 450 million years ago, and situated 18 feet below Times Square, it's as though New York were destined to be the energy-rich, cultural epicenter of the world. One could even say the vibe of New York has remained unchanged since the beginning of time. With visible outcroppings in Central Park and the basement walls of Grand Central Terminal, the Manhattan Schist contains more than 100 minerals—including quartz, white orthoclase, feldspar, and mica.

Many believe these minerals carry with them a metaphysical energy that enhances creativity, increases awareness, and releases negativity—our own Mayor Eric Adams being one of them. And, whether you choose to believe it or not, there's no denying New York empowers all those who choose to live in, visit, or witness the city in all its unrivaled, powerful, and energetic glory.

And as we wrap up this story, we invite you to come experience New York and One Times Square for yourself, with our new electrifying museum experience and viewing deck along with twelve floors of AR-VR activations, currently under construction. Whether you come to celebrate the New Year, or you choose to visit during any other season, our technology-driven building experiences will take you on an interactive, one-of-a-kind expedition. You will travel through time—infused with both energy and education—as you venture down into New York City's bedrock, then up and away for an unparalleled view of Times Square. After this, we have no doubt that the next time somebody asks you, "Where is the best place to ring in the New Year?" your answer will be, "New York, of course."