NYC to Host Virtual Time Square Ball Drop

Organizers of the historic annual New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City issued a press release saying the countdown to 2021 in Times Square will be very different this year in order to address health and safety concerns.

The midnight ball drop will be redesigned in response to the challenges faced amid the coronavirus pandemic. There will be no shoulder to shoulder screaming crowds waving to the folks watching at home. Instead, the iconic event will feature a virtual celebration designed for a digital experience which anyone can watch from home or wherever they are.

Any potential live aspects of what’s usually a grand celebration are still in the development stages. Plans are to feature a very limited group of socially distanced honored guests who represent the inspirations as well as challenges of 2020.

Live audience participation will be strictly limited to the virtual experience, with no public audience in attendance. Jamestown, who owns One Times Square, has developed an app allowing viewers to celebrate the event in a “virtual Times Square.”