The Waterford Crystal Times Square Ball Presented at the ICF - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Waterford Crystal Times Square Ball Presented at the ICF Conference Istanbul, October 2008 Colin McGookin

Times Square New Year’s Eve 2007

Background • Since 1904 Times Square, New York has been at the centre of New Year’s Eve Celebrations. • The centrepiece of the celebrations is a specially designed ‘Ball’, which slowly descends a flagpole on top of the One Times Square Building. • This gentle descent is timed to coundown the final 60 seconds of the old year. • Waterford Crystal first became involved in 1999, when a new Ball was designed for the New Millennium Celebrations.

Key Facts • New Year’s Eve in Times Square is one of the most recognized and televised global entertainment events: – Estimated 1 million revellers attend on site. – Over 100 million U.S. television viewers. – A worldwide T.V. audience of over 1 billion viewers. – Over 275 broadcasters covering the event worldwide.

History • December 31 st , 1907: New Year’s Eve Ball made its maiden descent down the flagpole atop One Times Square. • The Ball has been lowered every year since 1907, with exceptions of 1942 and 1943 – suspended due to wartime ‘dimout’. • Ball replaced, upgraded several times; 1920, 1955, 1981, 1995. • ‘Time Balls’: First ‘time ball’ was installed atop England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1833. • This Ball would drop at one o’clock every afternoon, allowing captains of nearby ships to percisely set chronometers.

The Times Square Ball • The Ball has evolved as a concept and been re-designed on 3 occasions since the Waterford involvement began in 1999. • 1999 : Millennium 100 th Anniversary • 2007 : • 2008 : A new permanent 24/7, 365 day-a-year display.

The Design • The concept was to design a Ball that would mark The Millennium New Year’s Eve and provide a strong visual spectacle for T.V. viewers and the Times Square audience. • This was to be achieved with the constraints of: – Weight (600 k.g. max.) – Climatic conditions (wind, rain, frost, ambient temperature).

The Design Concept • A 6 foot diameter geodesic sphere – Pentagons and hexagons – Lightweight aluminium tubing skeleton – Clad with polycarbonate panels – Decorated with crystal triangles, independently fixed. • An array of internal and external lighting effects – Clear, Red, Blue, Yellow and Green lights – Lightning Strike Stobes. • Theatrical Lightining controls to provide a spectacular light show. The Illusion of a ‘Living Crystal Ball’

Millennium Ball Assembly

Design / Testing • The Ball design was assessed by mathematical modelling techniques to predict key variables and validate design parameters. • The key components were physically tested to ensure safe operation within preset criteria. • A weather station was mounted on the building and historic weather conditions traced to establish operating limits. • A strain guage was attached to the flagpole to assess stress. • The design was validated at up to: – 120 m.p.h. wind – Temperature range –15ºF to 106ºF

Ball Evolution: 2007 • To mark the 100 th Anniversary, the Ball was re- designed and upgraded: – Overall structure retained – New crystal panels, decorated front and back – Solid state lighting: 9,576 LED’s (red, green, blue, white) replace old bulbs. – LED’s and advanced lighting controls create a vast colour palate. – Variety of internal design modifications to accentuate the brilliance of the crystal. ‘Appears Larger Than Life …..Brings The Crystal to Life’

2007 Times Square Ball Assembly

Ball Evolution 2008 • Construction of a permanent 150 foot display, with the Ball operational 24/7, 365 days a year. • A new 12 foot Ball. • New challenges, based on permanency of display, scale and maintenance practicalities. Cont/d.

• Broadly developed existing concept, but adapted to accommodate: – Scaled-up aluminium frame, with revised geometry – Differing requirements for climatic conditions – New crystal triangles – Modified polycarbonate cladding – Up-spec lighting systems / controls – Revised key design parameters and criteria. • Scheduled for launch last week October • Final sitework installation is currently being completed. • Final assembly Ball in progress.

The Ball and Waterford • A highly successful event for Waterford. • Life-size replica Ball on display in the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre, which attracts 330,000+ visitors per annum. • Promotional activity with Macy’s Herald Square, a key account in the run-up to the vital Holiday season sales. Considered to be one of their most successful-ever in-store events. • Each year panels are replaced and decorated with a new ‘themed story’ e.g. 2007 ‘Let There Be Light’. – Significant spin-off product sales at $3-4 million p.a. • Huge Media Coverage – very positive PR: – In attendance 1 million Times Square. – T.V. US 100 million. – Worldwide 1 billion.

Millennium New Year’s Eve