NYC Mayor: Ticketing Approach to be Used For Rockefeller Christmas Tree Viewing
Today during his press briefing, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would be using a ticketing plan for folks interested in seeing this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree – an approach to be used for the sake of ensuring that COVID-19 guidelines are followed.
Two weeks after the tree’s arrival and mere days away from its actual lighting on December 2, the mayor made the announcement upon being asked by a member of the press.
It’s possibly one of the most anticipated announcements this holiday season. Every year the tree is visited by tens if not hundreds of thousands. Even without the presence of tourists one should still expect crowds of New Yorkers wanting to get a long enough glance of the holiday tree.
Earlier this month, we wrote out a proposal on how to handle visitation of midtown’s most iconic holiday attraction. Lines and ticketing were on our mind just as they were for the reopening of Governors Island. Interestingly, we were right both times; or rather, the city was having the same thoughts.
There was something curious in the Mayor’s words today:
“If you’re, you know, walking by the area, great, you’ll see it. But what we do not want and can’t have is large crowds of people trying to get close. It’s just not safe. It’s not like – I don’t need to tell anyone, but I’m going to say it again, it’s just not like holidays we’ve gone through before,” said Mr. de Blasio.
He said, “walking by the area” and how they don’t want “large crowds of people trying to get close.”
Anyone familiar with the area knows that there’s a line of sight from various points near Rockefeller Plaza (beside the rink) where the tree is situated. Is the Mayor oblivious to how folks behave, especially New Yorkers? Has it not occurred to him that people will in fact congregate at these spots, thus rendering moot any possibility of COVID-19 compliance? Is he only concerned with people getting too close to the tree and not those gathering in the distance?
It wouldn’t be the first time he’s thought along such lines. Earlier this year we asked him about the reopening of Governor’s Island. His response revolved around concern over crowds. Obviously, the mayor doesn’t get around often enough to realize how crowds aren’t synonymous with the vast empty spaces available on the island. His observations have fallen far from reality on other occasions throughout the year as well.
But then, maybe he’s got a plan. Surely someone in his circle will have the sense to anticipate any problems. We’re thinking some correctly positioned enforcement officials could help disperse crowds which might form.
Details aren’t available yet as to how one can get tickets to the see the tree. Presumably, an announcement will be made in the very near future.