Which material made the 2000 Times Square New Year's Eve ball especially famous?

The 2000 Times Square New Year's Eve ball was especially famous for its Waterford crystal panels.

The ball used for the millennium celebration was designed as a large geodesic sphere covered with Waterford crystal triangles. Its creation connected the long-running Times Square tradition with a major international celebration marking the arrival of the year 2000.

Waterford, an Irish crystal manufacturer, became closely associated with later Times Square balls as well. Annual designs have used illuminated crystal panels arranged in changing patterns, while modern LED systems allow the sphere to display many colors and effects.

The material can be confused with the ball's supporting structure. The sphere has a metal framework and electrical equipment beneath its decorative surface; Waterford crystal refers to the visible crystal panels, not the entire object. The 2000 ball was also substantially larger than the original 1907 ball, reflecting the event's growth into a global broadcast spectacle.