1 · The short answer

The ball drops at midnight on 31 December from the pole at One Times Square, Broadway at 43rd Street. The Times Square Alliance says the ball is raised at about 6pm, the viewing areas open at about 3pm on a first come, first served basis, and entry is free with no tickets. Once a pen is full, the police fill the next one further up the avenues.

On the night your phone does three jobs: it gets you to an open entry point, it keeps you in touch with your group once you are inside a pen, and it carries the countdown to people at home. Ringo Light's United States plan covers New York and the rest of the country with unlimited data; it arrives by email and installs in one scan.

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2 · Getting into a viewing area

The official access points are on the avenues to the east and west of Times Square, at 6th and 8th Avenues, not on Broadway itself. You queue, pass a security check, and are placed in a pen. People who arrive in the afternoon stand for many hours; leaving a pen usually means losing your place.

Bag rules, prohibited items and street closures are announced by the Alliance and the police in December. Check the official FAQ on your phone the day before rather than relying on last year's list.

3 · What happens to the signal at midnight

Hundreds of thousands of phones share the same few blocks. The carriers bring in extra capacity for the night, but messages can still lag and video calls drop around the countdown. Send your midnight message a few minutes early, and agree a meeting point that does not depend on a working phone.

Cold and long hours drain batteries. Carry a power bank, keep the phone in an inside pocket, and turn the brightness down while you wait.

4 · Other ways to see the new year in New York

  • ✓The live webcast. The Alliance streams the whole evening on its site, so a hotel room near Midtown still gets the countdown.
  • ✓Fireworks in Central Park and Brooklyn. Prospect Park and Central Park usually hold midnight fireworks and runs; check the parks' own pages in December.
  • ✓A restaurant or bar with a view. Many venues around Times Square sell New Year's Eve packages with a view of the ball. Book early and keep the confirmation on your phone.

5 · After midnight

The crowd leaves on foot through the side streets, and the subway runs all night, but the stations near Times Square are packed for an hour. Walking ten blocks away before you look for a train or a ride saves time; ride apps surge right after midnight.

6 · Around Times Square at New Year

The square on the night, and the city around it in the last week of the year.

The ball and the crowd, Times Square, Broadway at 43rd Street
Times Square, Broadway at 43rd StreetThe ball and the crowdThe crowd in the pens on the evening, waiting for the ball to drop.✓Save the official FAQ offline before you join a pen.Photo: Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States, CC BY 2.0
The morning after, Times Square
Times SquareThe morning afterConfetti covers the square after midnight and the sanitation crews clear it by morning.✓Ride apps surge after midnight; walk a few blocks before you book.Photo: Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States, CC BY 2.0
The Rockefeller Center tree, Rockefeller Plaza
Rockefeller PlazaThe Rockefeller Center treeThe Christmas tree and the skating rink below it stay up into the new year.✓Skating sessions are booked online by time slot.Photo: Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States, CC BY 2.0
Times Square on any other night, Midtown Manhattan
Midtown ManhattanTimes Square on any other nightThe screens and theatres of Broadway, a short walk from the hotel districts.✓Tap your phone wallet at the subway gates; the OMNY readers take contactless.Photo: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0

7 · Frequently asked questions

When does the ball drop in Times Square?+
At midnight on 31 December. The ball is raised at about 6pm and begins its 60 second descent at 11:59pm, according to the Times Square Alliance.
Do I need a ticket for New Year's Eve in Times Square?+
No. The viewing areas are free and open on a first come, first served basis, from about 3pm according to the Alliance.
Will my phone work in Times Square at midnight?+
It works, but slowly: hundreds of thousands of phones share the same cells. Send your messages a few minutes before midnight and agree a meeting point in advance.
Which Ringo Light plan covers New Year's Eve in New York?+
The United States plan covers New York and the rest of the country, with unlimited data.

8 · Sources

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