A first look at the #RVANYE Browns Island ball drop device

by | Dec 29, 2014 | POLITICS

There’s a massive, brand-new device being produced piece by piece in New Castle, DE, and it’s making it’s way down to RVA for the Brown’s Island’s inaugural New Years Eve celebration.


There’s a massive, brand-new device being produced piece by piece in New Castle, DE, and it’s making it’s way down to RVA for the Brown’s Island’s inaugural New Years Eve celebration.

“We built some of the critical parts of it in our shop… but it’s never been put together before,” said Andy Rougvie from Light Action Productions, the company building the main attraction at the 2015 #RVANYE celebration. “It’s new and cool and exciting.”

Rougvie shared a few details about the 50 foot tower which hopes to attract as many as 15 thousand spectators to downtown RVA on December 31st.

Two LED screens, one at the top and one at the middle, are attached to the tower. The top screen is a square, and the bottom is a circle.

At midnight, the two will move and change places. Lighting and smoke effects will accompany the move, as will other surprises which Rougvie said are still a secret.

Rougvie said this couldn’t compare to any of his company’s past projects. “It’s copying the NYE Ball in NYC, but it’s different,” he said. “No one’s really done this to this scale before. It’s a new adventure.”

Rougvie and friends started working on the concept back in June, and he said the project hopes to bring something totally unique to celebrate the holiday in RVA.

It’s going to take about 10 hours to erect the monument to 2015, and Rougvie and friends will be making the trip and start assembling the tower tomorrow.

Expect some exciting video graphics, the company of plenty of new friends, and one awesome NYE you’ll never forget this Wednesday night.

RVANYE 2015 is free and open to the 18+ public, you can pick up VIP passes here.

NYE SWIZZY -30 SLATED from RVA Magazine on Vimeo.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




more in politics

I Went to the Data Center Town Hall at Studio Two Three

On Monday night, close to 300 to people packed into Studio Two Three in Richmond for a town hall about data centers, moderated by Gray Montrose and co-hosted by Henrico Civic Action and Data Center Defiance.  I went to get a better sense of where Richmonders are from...

Salon de Résistance | Into the Wood Chipper

Join us for a special edition of Salon de Résistance on Thursday, August 27 at Black Iris with former senior USAID official and whistleblower Nicholas Enrich, author of the New York Times bestseller Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump...

Opinion | It’s Time to Rethink Primaries

Editor's Note: The views expressed are those of the author. Lisa Vedernikova Khanna ran for Congress in Virginia's 1st Congressional District and previously served as Chief of Staff at the Democratic National Committee. This essay reflects her perspective and personal...

Far-Right “Remigration” Propaganda Targets Bhatti Campaign

Several campaign signs for Democratic congressional candidate Salaam Bhatti were vandalized over the weekend with professionally printed flyers telling him to "return to your homeland" in multiple languages. The flyers also featured the hashtag #Remigration, a term...

Virginia’s New Marijuana Law: Everything You Need to Know

After years of legislative battles, vetoes, compromise negotiations, and numerous articles, Virginia finally has a roadmap for legal recreational marijuana sales. The state budget signed into law earlier this week establishes a regulated cannabis marketplace beginning...

The Strange Afterlife of Virginia’s President Heads

Editor's Note: Reminder, the sculptures are located on private property and are not open for general visitation. Access is available only through scheduled guided tours, with Labor Day weekend currently expected to be the final tour on the calendar. Tour information...

Blöthar: “GWAR Didn’t Change. The World Freakin Changed.”

Richmond metal band GWAR says the Secret Service contacted the group following a recent performance at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., that featured the mock execution of a Donald Trump effigy. Video of the performance, which showed band members...