What material has made New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve Ball famous since 2000?
Answer
Waterford Crystal
New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve Ball has been famous for its Waterford Crystal panels since 2000.
The partnership began when Waterford, an Irish crystal manufacturer, supplied crystal triangles for the newly redesigned ball. The 2000 ball was also larger and heavier than earlier versions, helping create the modern visual tradition seen during the televised countdown.
The ball itself dates to 1907, when the New York Times organized a fireworks celebration above its headquarters in Times Square. Fireworks restrictions led organizers to lower a lighted ball from a flagpole instead. That first ball used wood, iron, and electric lamps rather than crystal.
People sometimes call the object a crystal ball, but it is a lit time ball covered with precisely cut panels. The design has changed several times, and Waterford Crystal has remained associated with the annual Times Square descent.