Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo is ready for 2022 and an in-person crowd will again return to Roosevelt Square for the annual ball drop from the Electric Tower.
After a break in annual ball drops last year due to the pandemic, the in-person event returns Friday night with some COVID guidelines in place.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is requesting that all those attending ve vaccinated, wear masks and do their best to socially distance themselves from others. "It's an honor system," Brown said.
A dress rehearsal of the ball drop was held earlier this week and all went without a hitch. It took the ball just over a minute to complete its 108 foot descent down the side of the building.
As for the ball, Paul Iskalo of Iskalo Development says it has 342 LED lights, is 220 pounds, five feet high and four feet wide.
The ball begins its descent before the stroke of midnight, says Iskalo, coming to rest as the new year is rung in. "Our property management team works with the New Year's Eve ball drop in New York City to coordinate the timing so that the ball comes to its final resting spot precisely at 12 midnight."
Buffalo Police Deputy Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia says they'll have a heavy presence for the event to ensure safety for all. "We will have the area locked down."
In addition to the COVID guidelines, attendees are asked to have nothing more than a small bag in their possession.
Free parking for the event will be available at both the Fernbach and Mohawk ramps.
The following is a list of street closings for New Year's Eve:
• 10:30 a.m. - Washington Street in front of the Electric Tower (between Genesee and East Huron streets) will close for stage setup,
• 11 a.m. - West Huron Street (between Pearl and Main streets) and E. Huron Street (between Main and Ellicott streets) will close.
• 2 p.m. - Chippewa Street (between Delaware Avenue to Franklin Street), Washington Street (between Mohawk and E Huron streets), Washington Street (between Genesee and Chippewa streets)
• 4 p.m. - Genesee Street (between E. Huron to Ellicott streets)
All streets will reopen by 2 a.m., January 1, 2022, except Chippewa Street (between Delaware Avenue and Franklin Street), which will remain closed until 8 a.m., on January 1.
