Countdown to 2024: Giant numerals arrive in Times Square
Eleven days before the countdown to 2024 in Times Square begins, the giant, seven-foot-tall numerals made their dress rehearsal debut on Broadway.
“Like every good Broadway show, we have dress rehearsals,” Tom Harris, President, Times Square Alliance said. “We want to test them out, make sure that they work.”
The iconic numerals arrived after being transported on a cross-country trip by a 2024 Kia EV9. The coast-to-coast tour started in Los Angeles, California and visited holiday events in Tucson, Arizona and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, giving people across the country an opportunity to cheer the arrival of 2024.
The numerals will stay on display through the morning of December 22. That’s when the number four will be lifted to the top of One Times Square, officially completing the “2-0-2-4” sign that will light up at midnight on December 31.
“Like all Broadway shows, we have understudies,” Harris said. “So what you’re looking at is three of the understudies that get to make their debut on Broadway today. And we will just be putting the four up in place sometime next week.”
Standing seven foot high, The four numerals use a total of 588 energy efficient LED bulbs; the numeral “2” contains 145 bulbs, the “0” contains 164 bulbs, and the “4” contains 134 bulbs.
Seeing the numbers up close without the New Year’s Eve crowds was a temptation some locals couldn’t resist.
“I love that I can count down Happy New Year with the numerals,” Brooklyn resident Teresa Hui, said. “I don’t have to be out here in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. As a local, we try to avoid this place like the plague.”
For Harlem resident Renell Grant having her picture taken in front of the numbers is a tradition. “I do it every year… I am starting off the New Year with hope, joy, love, good perspectives,” Grant said.
Chingyi Sullivan is visiting New York City with her family from Washington D.C. “This is so cool. You know, the magical season in New York for the Christmas time,” Sullivan said.
The four numerals weigh a total of approximately 1,160 lbs. The “0” is heaviest at 380 lbs. The two “2”s weigh in at 250 lbs. each, and the “4” is estimated to weigh 280 lbs.
