Show notes
In this final episode of 2025, Radio Night Live: Fun Friday's Kevin McCullough and Cristyne Nicholas are joined by Tom Harris, the mastermind behind New York City's iconic Times Square; and Delfin Ortiz, General Manager, Senior Vice President of Operations at Jamestown. He leads operations of One Times Square, a $500 million project transforming the property into an experiential hub at the intersection of art, technology, and entertainment.
Radio Night Live: Fun Friday dives into the history of the famous New Year's Eve ball drop, from its origins in 1907 to the current preparations for the 2026 celebration.
Tom "T-Square" Harris shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the ball, the confetti drop, and the symbolism behind the event. With the 250th anniversary of the United States just around the corner, Tom reveals a special surprise for the 2026 ball drop, making this episode a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the magic of Times Square!
DELFIN ORTIZ, General Manager of One Times Square and Senior Vice President of Operations, Development & Construction at Jamestown. This is Delfin’s 1st time on Fun Friday, though Cristyne and Tom (KMC was in in Italy) welcomed President & CEO of Jamestown, Michael Phillips, on August 5th, to preview One Times Square.
Delfin Ortiz is a General Manager, Senior Vice President of Operations at Jamestown. He leads operations of One Times Square, a $500 million project transforming the property into an experiential hub at the intersection of art, technology, and entertainment. Prior to joining Jamestown, Mr. Ortiz was Managing Director at One World Observatory overseeing observation deck, restaurant, cafe, event space, and tenant space at One World Trade Center and 151 W 42nd St. He also oversaw Sky View Observatory in Seattle, Washington, View Boston in Massachusetts, Vue Orleans in Louisiana, and the Shard in London, England.
Mr. Ortiz has more than 25 years of experience in the hotel industry, operating and promoting Four/Five Diamond Properties for Omni Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels in New York, Houston, Miami, Austin, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and San Antonio.
During his time in the hotel industry, he was the recipient of the Associate of the Year, Manager of the Year, Executive of the Year, and General Manager of the Year. Mr. Ortiz earned an Associate of Applied Sciences from the City University of New York and a Diploma in Hospitality Management from New York University.
ABOUT ONE TIMES SQUARE:
One Times Square is the focal point of the Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration and home of the New Year's Eve Ball! The 26-story building, originally built as the headquarters for the New York Times in 1904, the 121-year-old building will offer visitors a new way to experience one of the world’s most renowned locations.
The building will continue to host New Year’s Eve celebrations and house the New Year’s Eve Ball as it enters its next chapter. Following a $500 million redevelopment, the historic building in the heart of Times Square will feature a range of exciting attractions, designed to engage visitors throughout the year.
These experiences will establish One Times Square as a year-round hub for experiential entertainment, celebrations, and new traditions in the heart of New York City.
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