scorecardPhotos inside the virtually empty tower that the New Year's Eve ball drops from in New York City
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Photos inside the virtually empty tower that the New Year's Eve ball drops from in New York City

Joey Hadden   

Photos inside the virtually empty tower that the New Year's Eve ball drops from in New York City
One Times Square is seen on New Years in 2015 and again in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.Jamestown; John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty Images
  • The 2021 New Year's Eve ball drop will take place in a virtually empty Times Square in New York City.
  • The entire event has gone virtual to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
  • Just like Times Square, the tower that the ball drops from is also pretty empty.
  • Insider toured the building in 2019 to see what it's like inside.

New Year's Eve is going to look a little different this year.

The New Year's Eve ball will still drop in Times Square, but the event will be missing its roughly one million audience members who typically brave the cold and the crowds to welcome in the new year.

In 2020, the world-famous event that more than one billion people watch on TV each year will not be open to the public. Instead, artists and personalities will perform to cameras in an empty square, as the entire event has gone virtual in light of the ongoing pandemic.

Not only will the square itself be essentially empty, but so will the tower. With most of its revenue coming from billboards, the tower's interior only has a couple of tenants and remnants from past businesses.

We went inside the building in 2019 and photographed what's left of the building's interior, from exposed steel pillars to a deteriorating office chair in what was once a New York Times newsroom.

This is the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square, New York. More than a billion people watch it drop at the turn of each year.

This is the New Year
The New Year's Eve ball.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Times Square

It sits on top of One Times Square patiently waiting 364 days each year for its moment of late December glory.

It sits on top of One Times Square patiently waiting 364 days each year for its moment of late December glory.
The New Year's Eve ball changes colors.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In addition to the billion who watch it on TV, about a million people gather around One Times Square to watch this crystal ball drop, per USA Today.

In addition to the billion who watch it on TV, about a million people gather around One Times Square to watch this crystal ball drop, per USA Today.
A New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.      Flickr/amelungc

Source: USA Today

The ball-drop is an iconic American tradition that's more than 100 years old, National Geographic reported.

The ball-drop is an iconic American tradition that
People celebrate the new year in Times Square.      Flickr / Anthony Quintano

Since the ads on the landmark are seen by more than one billion, the ad space generates about $23 million a year, Business Insider previously reported.

Since the ads on the landmark are seen by more than one billion, the ad space generates about $23 million a year, Business Insider previously reported.
Times Square on New Year's Eve in the first minute of 2015.      Jamestown

But the building it lives on is empty, aside from the Walgreens on the ground floor and the New Year's Eve headquarters on the 22nd floor.

But the building it lives on is empty, aside from the Walgreens on the ground floor and the New Year
One Times Square is also known as 1475 Broadway.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Exploring the eerily empty building rich with history as crowds hustled outside made it feel like time was standing still inside One Times Square.

Exploring the eerily empty building rich with history as crowds hustled outside made it feel like time was standing still inside One Times Square.
I went inside the building in 2019.      George Rose/Getty Images/Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The building is mostly empty because it would require a lot of work and expense to bring it up to current building codes ...

The building is mostly empty because it would require a lot of work and expense to bring it up to current building codes ...
A mostly-abandoned floor in One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

... and the building's small floor plate makes it difficult to utilize, according to representatives of the building's owner, Jamestown Properties.

... and the building
The floor was mostly empty.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Most floors of the building aren't being used.

Most floors of the building aren
A lone light bulb on an abandoned floor in One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I quickly saw how much work would go into renovating the interior. Exposed steel can be seen on pillars ...

I quickly saw how much work would go into renovating the interior. Exposed steel can be seen on pillars ...
Exposed steel on a mostly-abandoned floor in One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

... giving them an eerie look.

... giving them an eerie look.
The exposed steel pillars looked eerie      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

These are the barest bones of an exit sign that I have ever seen.

These are the barest bones of an exit sign that I have ever seen.
An exit sign rests on an abandoned floor.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

And some parts of the ceiling appeared to be slowly crumbling away.

And some parts of the ceiling appeared to be slowly crumbling away.
The ceiling on a mostly-abandoned floor in One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Even though parts of the building could use some work, I appreciated the building's history and imagined the people who used to occupy it.

Even though parts of the building could use some work, I appreciated the building
Exposed steel inside One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Jamestown

One floor was once home to a restaurant and bar.

One floor was once home to a restaurant and bar.
An abandoned restaurant inside One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Jamestown

This counter where bartenders slung their drinks ...

This counter where bartenders slung their drinks ...
Dust coats an abandoned tile bar.      Joey Hadden/Insider

... is still intact with colorful tiling.

... is still intact with colorful tiling.
Cardboard was piled on top of the tile counter.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

You can also imagine the hustle inside the former New York Times newsroom. The building was built originally to serve as the newspaper's headquarters.

You can also imagine the hustle inside the former New York Times newsroom. The building was built originally to serve as the newspaper
This floor was once the New York Times Headquarters before it was turned into a restaurant and bar.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Jamestown

Before that, this area was referred to as "Long Acre Square" after a carriage district in London, Business Insider previously reported.

Before that, this area was referred to as "Long Acre Square" after a carriage district in London, Business Insider previously reported.
Times Square in the early 20th century.      The Library of Congress

The building was named the Times building upon its completion in 1904 for its function as the New York Times headquarters.

The building was named the Times building upon its completion in 1904 for its function as the New York Times headquarters.
Workmen risking their lives 27 stories above ground the Times Building, New York City.      Library of Congress

And the square was then renamed to reflect the news organization's presence in the neighborhood.

And the square was then renamed to reflect the news organization
The New York Times Building.      Library of Congress

Throughout the 20th century, Times Square gained more popularity thanks to new subway lines ...

Throughout the 20th century, Times Square gained more popularity thanks to new subway lines ...
Times Square in the early 20th century.      Library of Congress

... and New York Times owner Adolph Orchs, who generated crowds by projecting news on boards on the sides of the building.

... and New York Times owner Adolph Orchs, who generated crowds by projecting news on boards on the sides of the building.
The Times building during an election night in the early 20th century.      Times Square on an election election night in the early 20th century

Today, Times Square is New York's most visited tourist attraction. And One Times Square is right in the heart of it.

Today, Times Square is New York
A bustling night in Times Square.      David Phan/Flickr

Looking outside at the bustling streets of Times Square now from the windows of this quiet, almost-empty building made me feel like, inside, time had stopped.

Looking outside at the bustling streets of Times Square now from the windows of this quiet, almost-empty building made me feel like, inside, time had stopped.
A window in the New Year's Headquarters.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

But there is one floor that continues to have a function - Floor 22, the New Year's Eve Headquarters.

But there is one floor that continues to have a function - Floor 22, the New Year
New Year's Eve Headquarters floor in One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Jamestown

This is where people working on all different aspects of the annual New Year's Eve celebration meet every year to collaborate on the event.

This is where people working on all different aspects of the annual New Year
The room displays delicate New Yea's Eve trinkets from all different years.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The New York Times put on the first New Year's Eve celebration on the eve of 1905 using fireworks and dynamite, the publication reported.

The New York Times put on the first New Year
The Times building in on New Year's Eve in 1905.      New York Times

The celebration was for the new year and for the Times to let everyone know about their new location, per The Culture Trip.

The celebration was for the new year and for the Times to let everyone know about their new location, per The Culture Trip.
Times Square in the early 20th century.      Library of Congress

When fireworks were banned two years later, New York swapped explosions for the iconic New Year's Eve ball, Business Insider previously reported.

When fireworks were banned two years later, New York swapped explosions for the iconic New Year
The New Year's Eve ball in 2019.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The first New Year's Eve ball weighed 700 pounds and contained 100 25-watt light bulbs, and it dropped in 1907, per The Times.

The first New Year
A photo of the millennium ball for the year 2000 at the New Year's Eve Headquarters. First New Year's Eve ball not pictured.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I got to see up close what the ball is made of. Waterford Crystal makes the New Year's Eve ball out of thousands of triangles of various sizes.

I got to see up close what the ball is made of. Waterford Crystal makes the New Year
A Waterford Crystal triangle.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Times Square

After exploring the headquarters, I headed to the rooftop to see the ball itself. The rooftop provided views of Times Square, too ...

After exploring the headquarters, I headed to the rooftop to see the ball itself. The rooftop provided views of Times Square, too ...
The rooftop of One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

... but the metal roof deck wasn't as glamorous as I imagined it to be.

... but the metal roof deck wasn
The metal roof deck of One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I was definitely a bit spooked by the flooring on the roof and that I could see the floor below ...

I was definitely a bit spooked by the flooring on the roof and that I could see the floor below ...
The rooftop of One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

... but I forgot about all of that the moment I got to see the ball up close. It was mesmerizing.

... but I forgot about all of that the moment I got to see the ball up close. It was mesmerizing.
Looking at the ball on top of One Times Square.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

With 672 LED modules and the ability to produce 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns, the ball creates a kaleidoscopic effect on top of Times Square.

With 672 LED modules and the ability to produce 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns, the ball creates a kaleidoscopic effect on top of Times Square.
The New Year's Eve ball in 2019.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Source: Times Square

While One Times Square's exterior glitters with the promise of new things, inside I was delighted to find a time capsule of New York's iconic past.

While One Times Square
Me and the New Year's Eve ball in 2019.      Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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