New Year's Eve Times Square ball drop is going virtual this year

Gothamist

This year's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square will be "a virtually enhanced celebration" with "an extremely limited group of in-person honorees, socially distanced, who will reflect the themes, challenges and inspirations of 2020," organizers announced Wednesday. It's not clear what shows like Ryan Seacrest's New Year's Rockin' Eve and Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's New Year's Eve Live have planned for New Year's, but New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio commended the organizers for finding a "safe, creative and innovative way for all of us to continue to celebrate this century old-tradition. A new year means a fresh start, and we’re excited to celebrate." Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance that co-produces the event with Countdown Entertainment, said of the changes: "This year there will be significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences—still in development—will take place in Times Square. And because any opportunity to be live in Times Square will be pre-determined and extremely limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be the opportunity to participate virtually wherever you are. Because more than ever in these divided and fear-filled times, the world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings."