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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyball1111,0,657743.story
YONKERS, N.Y. - Next month, it'll be the famous New Year's Eve ball. Next year, it could be the Great Pumpkin.
A bigger, brighter Waterford crystal ball will usher in 2009 above Times Square, then remain in place all year to celebrate other holidays including Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July and Halloween, organizers said Monday.
"You won't have to be here on Dec. 31 anymore to see the Times Square ball," said Jeff Straus, president of Countdown Entertainment. "You can come any time now and it will be up there like a jewel, every day. And we expect to have special programming for special days."
The new ball, which was being assembled Monday at a studio in Yonkers, is 12 feet in diameter and weighs nearly 6 tons. Last year's ball was 6 feet across and less than a ton.
The flagpole that was used for previous balls wasn't considered sturdy enough, so a new shaft was built, and steel bracing was added to the building beneath it, 1 Times Square. At its highest, the ball will be 475 feet above Times Square.
"We pretty much had to redesign the top of the building," Straus said.
The ball is a geodesic dome built of 2,468 Waterford crystal triangles, each etched with a stylized starburst or a stylized angel, Waterford spokesman Peter Cheyney said.
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Posted 11/11/08 8:01 AM  |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
That's kinda weird to me. It won't be as special when you see it on NYE anymore.
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| Posted 11/11/08 8:10 AM |
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KarenG2003
My BIG man and my little man!
Member since 4/08 1684 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
I think it's a cute idea!
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| Posted 11/11/08 9:18 AM |
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quasi3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/07 1764 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
I don't like change.
I think it should only be up for New Years....... why change something that has worked for years?
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| Posted 11/11/08 9:23 AM |
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mommy0604
My Son is my world...
Member since 10/07 3270 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by CathyB
That's kinda weird to me. It won't be as special when you see it on NYE anymore.
I agree...
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| Posted 11/11/08 9:23 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by quasi3
I don't like change.
I think it should only be up for New Years....... why change something that has worked for years?
So tourists can admire the multi-million dollar sphere the rest of the year as well.
Isn't 2009 "The Year of Change"?  
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:05 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
I will stay away from it in high wind days. 
I think it's a bit strange. The ball was just to be the countdown for the new year so I guess it's won't be "that" special anymore.
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:07 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by smdl
I will stay away from it in high wind days.
I think it's a bit strange. The ball was just to be the countdown for the new year so I guess it's won't be "that" special anymore.
How about every Friday, we have a city-wide "Countdown to the weekend!" 
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:12 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by smdl
I will stay away from it in high wind days.
I think it's a bit strange. The ball was just to be the countdown for the new year so I guess it's won't be "that" special anymore.
How about every Friday, we have a city-wide "Countdown to the weekend!"
Nobody would work waiting for the thing to come up!!!!
Message edited 11/11/2008 10:33:19 AM.
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:21 AM |
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TreAnt427
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Member since 8/06 8652 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
I think it will be nice, if they change it for each holiday.
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:22 AM |
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Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Who the hell pays for a new one every year? What a waste.
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:45 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Not crazy about the idea.
I was fine with the Empire State Building to light different colors for Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, Valentine's Day, etc. When it lit up for Purple, Pink & White to commemorate Mariah Carey's record-breaking album, it's ridiculous & is commercialized with the rest of Times Square.
I think it's nice to save something for special occasions.
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| Posted 11/11/08 10:48 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by Wendy
Who the hell pays for a new one every year? What a waste.
From the article:
It's the seventh ball in the 101-year history of ball-dropping at Times Square. It's being paid for privately, said publicist Thomas Chiodo. Straus estimated the cost at several million dollars.
It's only the 7th ball, so they aren't that frequent. In this economy, anybody spending money is a good thing.
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| Posted 11/11/08 11:20 AM |
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MrsSteflily
I love chocolate
Member since 4/06 2047 total posts
Name:
Stef
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by quasi3
I don't like change.
I think it should only be up for New Years....... why change something that has worked for years?
I agree. It's something really special on NYE. This takes away from it.
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| Posted 11/11/08 4:39 PM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
I was just thinking this another huge farkin waste of money. How about bringing some attention to solar power by making it a solar feature or something that actually means something rather than Waterford getting their publicity
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| Posted 11/11/08 6:03 PM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
i agree with pp - waste of money
however, i have never been to see the ball drop in person - so at least now i can see it!
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| Posted 11/11/08 7:59 PM |
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jenheartsrob
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 1861 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Don't they change the lights on the Empire State Bldg for the holidays already? Why do we need another energy guzzler to light up special and tell us it's a holiday?
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| Posted 11/11/08 8:03 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by CathyB
That's kinda weird to me. It won't be as special when you see it on NYE anymore.
ITA!!!!
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| Posted 11/11/08 8:59 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
Posted by melijane
I was just thinking this another huge farkin waste of money. How about bringing some attention to solar power by making it a solar feature or something that actually means something rather than Waterford getting their publicity
Somewhat related, but I remember reading last year that the Rockefeller tree is solar powered now..... 
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| Posted 11/12/08 8:15 AM |
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anonttcer
BOOOO for fall!
Member since 7/06 10082 total posts
Name:
Meaning a NON ttcer!
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
It's kind of like leaving your Christmas lights on your house all year long....
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| Posted 11/12/08 10:19 AM |
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MrsBunnyBear
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 143 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2009 Times Square ball to stay up year-round
This change bothers me : (
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| Posted 11/12/08 5:33 PM |
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