Waterford has supplied the New Year's Eve Ball in New York City's Times Square since 2008.
The ball is decorated with Waterford crystal panels and descends from a flagpole atop One Times Square shortly before midnight. The current design, introduced for the 2000 celebration, is known as the Millennium Ball and has been updated with new crystal patterns over time.
Waterford is an Irish crystal manufacturer based in Waterford, Ireland. Its involvement links a New York celebration with a long-established European glassmaking tradition. The ball itself is not made entirely of crystal: its illuminated structure includes a metal framework, lighting equipment, and crystal triangles attached to the exterior.
A common mix-up is confusing the ball's maker with the event's host broadcaster or with the company that owns One Times Square. Waterford supplies the distinctive crystal covering, while the New Year's Eve ceremony involves several other organizations.