Times Square New Year's Eve co-organizers Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, along with presenting sponsor Planet Fitness, release multicolored confetti at Hard Rock Cafe Marquee in New York City on Dec 29, 2020. [Photo/Agencies] For the first time in more than a century, there won't be a massive crowd in Times Square on New Year's Eve to welcome the New Year. Instead of hundreds of thousands of people standing at the "Crossroads of the World'' as a ball drops from atop the 25-story One Times Square skyscraper to signal the start of a new year on Thursday night, there will be a virtual event on a webcast because of the coronavirus pandemic. Thjne show will feature numerous performers in musical numbers throughout the evening.