Times Square New Year's Will Look Different: What To Know

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — With days to go before thousands of people are scheduled to gather in Times Square to ring in 2022, one thing is certain: this year's New Year's Eve festivities will look different than usual.

A month ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio proudly announced that New Year's Eve crowds would return to Times Square on Dec. 31, after the coronavirus forced last year's ball-drop to happen with almost nobody present to watch it.

But the contagious omicron variant has led to a spike in COVID-19 cases across the city in recent weeks, fueling doubts about whether it would be wise to welcome throngs of visitors back to the heart of Midtown.

Will people still be able to attend?

Apparently so. De Blasio aimed to settle any doubts on Thursday, when he announced a scaled-back version of the initial plan. Instead of the typical 58,000 visitors, only 15,000 people will be allowed into Times Square's viewing areas on New Year's Eve.

In addition, all guests will be required to wear masks — on top of the previously-announced requirements that guests show proof of vaccination. And people will not be allowed to enter the viewing areas until 3 p.m. that day — much later than in past years.

"There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year," de Blasio said in a statement.

More information about the requirements for the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration can be found at TSQ.org/FAQ.

Can I watch online?

Yes. The ball-drop will be streamed live and commercial-free on TimesSquareNYC.org, among other websites, and cable TV networks typically broadcast the event as well.

And the real estate firm Jamestown, which owns the building where the ball drops, has developed a virtual New Year's Eve app allowing users to "explore the virtual world of Times Square, play games" and livestream the event, according to organizers.

Leaders have said that the return of the ball-drop could contribute to the revitalization of Times Square, which is seen as a bellwether for the rest of the city's recovery along with Midtown as a whole.

In a news conference last month, Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, said that pedestrian traffic in the area has risen by more than 50 percent in recent months — including 270,000 people on a recent Saturday.