Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31, millions of eyes turn to one iconic shape: Times Square's radiant New Year's Eve ball.
A 12-feet in diameter geodesic dome, the ball weighs nearly 12,000 pounds and is illuminated by more than 32,000 LED lights. There have been seven versions of the ball since it was first lowered in 1907, but the latest was designed in 2008. It features an all-new "Gift of Wisdom" panel, designed by Waterford Crystal.
Chris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness, which has sponsored Times Square's New Year's Eve celebration for seven years running, said there's nothing quite like seeing the ball up close.
"It really gives you goosebumps," he said. "It's much bigger than you think, but it's quite the experience."
The ball was designed to inspire awe, whether viewers are hundreds of feet below or thousands of miles away. And that helped amid a shift to remote celebrations during the coronavirus pandemic.
In-person activities for Times Square's New Year's Eve were canceled altogether in 2020. And this year's celebration will be significantly scaled back.
With the outbreak of the omicron variant of COVID-19, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio restricted access to fully vaccinated revelers and capped attendance at 15,000 in viewing areas
"New Yorkers have stepped up tremendously over the past year—we are leading the way on vaccinations, we have reopened safely, and every day we work toward building a recovery for all of us," de Blasio said in a statement. "There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year."
Not only has the pandemic disrupted New Year's Eve, it's taken a toll on health and wellness. But for Planet Fitness, that's an opportunity.
"I think now with mental health and mental wellness… it's really in bad shape right now post-COVID, that it's time to feel better," Rondeau said. "And you'll feel better right after your first workout."
For the one in four Americans who make resolutions, improving fitness and nutrition, and losing weight, tend to be popular choices. In a survey of 1,500 adults, conducted by YouGov, 50 percent of respondents resolved to exercise more and improve fitness, 48 percent resolved to lose weight, and 39 percent resolved to improve diet.
Rondeau said Planet Fitness with its $10 monthly memberships and "judgement free" slogan is uniquely positioned to capitalize on those resolutions to create long-term customers.
"It's the old saying, that I feel like I've got to get in shape before I join a gym, and we're the answer to that," he said. "Just come as you are, you'll feel comfortable."
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The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
