Times Square 2017

The eighth annual webcast, enabled by Livestream, will cover the action and festivities in Times Square, beginning with the Ball Raising at 6 p.m. EST, plus live musical performances, hourly countdowns, behind-the-scenes stories, and star-studded interviews as anticipation builds towards the midnight countdown and the famous Ball Drop.

The iconic Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and is covered by exactly 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangular panels.

The crystal panels are cut on both sides with a distinctive pattern, allowing the LED lights underneath to shine and reflect with unmatched brilliance. Gracing the sky high above the “Crossroads of the World”, this amazing creation is the most unique sight in all of Times Square.

Did you know that Waterford Crystal has been outfitting the Times Square Ball with brilliant crystal panels since the 2000 New Year’s Eve Celebration?

2017 will mark the 18th time that Waterford Crystal has been a part of the most iconic New Year’s Eve tradition.. and it keeps getting better!

Each of the design patterns on the Waterford Crystal triangles, has been inspired by the theme of international generosity. The series is called “The Greatest Gifts” Collection, which began in 2014 with the “Gift of Imagination”.

For 2017, the newest celebratory theme is the “Gift of Kindness”, honoring the spirit of charity and compassion, all in the name of promoting understanding, and strengthening the bonds of humanity.

The pattern itself has been designed with touching rosettes, supported on a base of olive cuts and rich diamond cutting. The pattern captures a sense of unity and togetherness, as the ends of each rosette reach out to form a chain or bonding circle in an expression of kindness.

Just before the 2017 New Year’s Eve Ball drop, 288 “Gift of Kindness” Waterford Crystal triangles will be installed on the Times Square Ball. This continues to happen throughout the 10 year time-frame of the “Greatest Gifts” series, culminating in 2023, at which time there will be a magical combination of all 10 Waterford Crystal pattern designs surrounding the ball. Perched high above Times Square, this crystal quilt-work of varying patterns will symbolize the World’s Greatest Gifts, serving as inspiration to all across the globe.

Fun Facts about the Waterford Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball:

• The 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles surround the 12 foot geodesic sphere which weighs 11,875 pounds.
• The Waterford Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball sits atop One Times Square for all to enjoy, 365 days per year!
• More than 1 Billion people worldwide tune in to watch the Waterford Times Square Ball drop on New Year’s Eve.
• A reported 1 Million people are in Times Square on New Year’s Eve to watch the Waterford Times Square Ball descend upon New York City!