From: Times Square 2000
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations (212) 843-8000
Contact: Patricia Amerman; Lauren Melone; Janet Wootten; Holly Taylor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL
DESIGNED BY WATERFORD CRYSTAL
FACT SHEET
How Will the New Ball Look?
- The new Ball will be a geodesic sphere 6 feet in diameter (the same size as the previous Ball) and will weigh approximately 1070 pounds (twice the weight of the previous Ball).
- The Ball will be covered with 504 crystal triangles featuring an original Waterford design, the "Star of Hope." The Waterford crystal triangles will vary in size and range in length from 4 3/4 inches to 5 3/4 inches per side.
- The specially hand-crafted "Star of Hope" design consists of a central circle and seven pointed star. The central circle portrays the earth, and the seven pointed star represents the seven continents. The cluster of deep wedge cuts which surround each individual star symbolize the diversity of humanity and the global focus of New Year's Eve in Times Square.
- The 504 Waterford crystal triangles are bolted to 168 translucent triangular lexan panels which are attached to the newly created aluminum frame of the Ball.
- The exterior of the Ball will be illuminated by 168 Halogená 2000 light bulbs, exclusively engineered by Philips for the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball.
- Additional lighting and electrical features developed in cooperation with Con Edison will be revealed later this fall.
History of the Ball
- The first roof-top celebration atop One Times Square, a spectacular fireworks display, took place in 1904, and was produced by The New York Times to inaugurate their new headquarters in Times Square and the re-naming of Long Acre Square to Times Square.
- The first Ball lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held in 1907 and has continued as a proud tradition for the past 91 years. The Times Square New Year's Ball is the property of the building owners of One Times Square.
- The world-famous celebration attracts more than 500,000 people to Times Square every year, and is broadcast to more than 1 billion television viewers worldwide.
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