What is the name of the New Year’s Eve ball held in Times Square before the famous ball drop?

The New Year’s Eve ball held in Times Square before the famous ball drop is the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball.

The first Times Square ball was lowered on December 31, 1907, from the flagpole of the New York Times building. It was created for a public New Year’s Eve celebration after fireworks were no longer permitted at the site. The ball-drop ritual continued, with interruptions during wartime blackouts in 1942 and 1943.

Earlier versions were made from materials including iron and wood, while later versions became larger and more elaborate. The current ball is a geodesic sphere built with Waterford Crystal panels and LED lighting. Its annual design may include a theme or commemorative elements.

The ball is sometimes casually called the “New Year’s ball,” but the established name is the Times Square Ball. It is lowered over One Times Square during a 60-second descent that ends at midnight in New York’s time zone.