New Times Square New Year’s Eve ball is largest ever, and open for public viewing
All photos courtesy of One Times Square
A new ball now rests above Times Square, ready to welcome the New Year in even more dazzling fashion. The new “Constellation Ball” was unveiled atop One Times Square this week, becoming the ninth iteration of the famed New Year’s Eve ball and replacing the previous version, which was retired in January after 17 years. The new ball is the largest yet, measuring 12.5 feet in diameter, weighing 12,350 pounds, and featuring nearly twice as many lights as its predecessor. In a notable design change, the old ball’s triangular crystals have been replaced with round crystals that more effectively refract light. For the first time, the public can get an up-close look at the ball from a viewing deck, through two ticketed experiences at One Times Square.
The change in crystal shapes marks the first departure from the triangular design used since 1999. The round crystals, provided by Waterford—the official crystal maker of the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball—come in three sizes: 1.5 inches, 3 inches, and 4 inches in diameter. Each size features a unique design that reflects the ball’s theme of “eternal positivity.”
Building on that theme, the 2025 edition crystals include three motifs: “Infinite Joy,” “Infinite Light,” and “Infinite Beginnings.” Later this year, a new theme and three corresponding designs will be introduced for the 2026 crystals.
The ball also features modern technology, including a state-of-the-art lighting, motion, and control system, as well as new signature sound and interactive capabilities. It features a real-time interactive audio system that creates designs based on music or other audio input.
“We are kicking off the New Year’s Eve festivities early this year, as we mark a new beginning for the centerpiece of the celebration – the beloved Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball,” Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, the owner and operator of One Times Square, said.
“With its circular crystals, The Constellation Ball is meant to represent interconnectedness, wholeness, and the cyclical nature of tradition, celebrating the eternal relationship between the past, present, and future.”
The ball is also open to the public for the first time. The Ball Access Experience takes guests to the building’s 360-degree wraparound viewing deck overlooking Times Square, followed by a photo moment next to the ball itself.
The Premium Ball Experience goes a step further, allowing guests to create a special message that will be translated into Morse code and displayed through light on New Year’s Eve. Premium ticket holders will also receive a Waterford crystal to commemorate the visit.
Tickets will start at about $45 per person, while the premium experience will cost $295 per person, according to the New York Times. Visitors can join the waitlist for both offerings here.
Another new experience at One Times Square will showcase some of the retired New Year’s Eve balls, which have been stored in the building’s subbasement for years. The engaging “time travel” exhibit will highlight a ball used from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s, which has been kept in Jamestown’s office, as 6sqft previously reported.
These experiences are part of Jamestown’s ongoing $550 million redevelopment of One Times Square into an experiential destination. The 25-story building, originally constructed as the headquarters of the New York Times at the turn of the 20th century, is being transformed into a year-round entertainment hub with a visitor center, a viewing deck overlooking Times Square, a museum, and significantly more advertising.
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