For many New Yorkers, Times Square on New Year’s Eve brings to mind one word: Nope.
The streets come to a standstill as about a million people pack into the (bathroom-less) area in the hours before midnight, braving the elements and forgoing liquids or embracing adult diapers for a chance to see the ball drop.
But if you have some cash to burn — and a taste for Double Crunch boneless wings or unlimited breadsticks — some venues around Times Square are offering a respite from the mayhem.
The catch: You must be the sort of person who is willing to spend $850 for a table at Applebee’s.
A number of usually affordable chain and fast-casual restaurants — including Olive Garden, Pink Taco, Schnipper’s and, yes, Applebee’s — are selling pricey tickets to locations in and around Times Square on New Year’s Eve, promising revelers a more comfortable experience than what they can get outdoors.
Many of the events are organized by Ball Drop, a company that reserves and sells table space at the restaurants through its website. For some revelers, the convenience and dining options are worth the price, which rises as availability goes down.
“I showed up an hour before the doors opened,” said Evan Lund, who traveled from Colorado to attend the Applebee’s New Year’s Eve event in 2022 and 2023 and shared his experience with Business Insider this year. “You get to stay inside, nice and warm and all that until you go to the party, so you don’t have to deal with all the other crazy stuff.”
Mr. Lund, 37, was not alone. The event at Applebee’s has sold out for a number of years, according to Doherty Enterprises, which owns the chain, as people have sought a more intimate view of the confetti and ball drop. Applebee’s hosts events at its locations on West 42nd Street and West 50th Street.
The hefty price tag — $729 to nearly $2,300 for a “private couple’s package” — includes more than just breathing room and bathrooms.
One of the more economical options, two seats at a communal table for $849 a ticket, comes with an open bar from 7 p.m. to midnight; a dinner buffet including sirloin, barbecue “riblets” and pasta primavera; and passed appetizers such as Double Crunch boneless wings, mini frankfurters and chicken wontons.
As midnight approaches, an Applebee’s employee escorts guests to a reserved section of the street for a traditional ball-drop view.
“It definitely was a special menu,” Mr. Lund said. “It seemed to be a little bit better quality than what would normally be at an Applebee’s.”
If Italian food sounds more appealing, the Olive Garden in Times Square hosts an event that includes an open bar and a buffet with pasta, salmon and, yes, unlimited breadsticks (“as available,” the Ball Drop website notes). Tickets, which cost $699, had sold out by Monday evening.
For a more affordable option, Schnipper’s, a fast-casual restaurant on the ground floor of the New York Times building, offers a general admission ticket for $119 that includes burgers, French fries, unlimited beer and wine and a view of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Looking to race friends on arcade motorcycles or shoot some hoops? Dave & Buster’s on West 42nd Street has you covered. Tickets start at just over $147 through Eventbrite.
This year, Ball Drop is producing roughly 65 parties in New York City, including one at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, according to Paul Warshaw, one of the company’s founders.
“Our model has always been trying to provide something for everyone,” Mr. Warshaw said. “We have tickets ranging from $100 to $7,500, depending on the experience.”
“We’ve worked really closely with the Times Square Alliance and N.Y.P.D. to create specific entry points based on the various venues,” he added.
No matter the venue, Times Square on New Year’s Eve is not for the faint of heart. After ringing in the last two years at Applebee’s, Mr. Lund, who now lives in Port Townsend, Wash., had his fill of buffet appetizers and entrees.
“There’s a little corner bar up the road,” Mr. Lund said. “That’s where we’re going this year.”
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