This  graphic is hard to see – but the Tines Square Ball is  12′  and the Chicago star  will be  70′!!!!!

This year, Chicago is starting a new tradition to ring in the New Year

with the inaugural celebration Chi-Town Rising. Corona Extra is the Presenting Sponsor of Chi-Town Rising and Hyatt Gold Passport is the Official Host Sponsor.

At 70’ 6” feet tip-to-tip and ascending to 360 feet into the night sky to welcome in the New Year, the Rising Star is truly the star of the show. Located on the West Tower of Hyatt Regency Chicago, the Rising Star will overlook the TV audience zone on Broadcast Boulevard and the Corona Beach House across the Chicago River.

Bucking the trend in the vast majority of cities around the world, the Rising Star will ascend at midnight versus descend. “Chicago has always been ‘a city on the rise,’ and never more so than in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1871 when the City rose from the ashes to become the fastest growing city in the world by the end of the 19^th century,” said Arena Partners President John Murray, “A Rising Star is fitting for a populace that rises to meet challenges head-on, and it is aspirational – symbolic of looking forward to the opportunities that the New Year holds in store for us.”

The Rising Star is inspired by the second star on the city’s flag, which represents the Great Fire of 1871 and the city’s phoenix-like rise in its aftermath.

The Chicago flag has four six-pointed stars on the center white stripe each representing a significant event in the city’s history. From left to right on Chicago’s flag, the first star represents Fort Dearborn; the second, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; the third, the World’s Columbian Exposition; and the fourth, the Century of Progress Exposition.

“Our city’s spirit inspired our choice to have an icon rise – not fall – on New Year’s Eve,” said John Murray. “Our city’s flag inspired our choice to use the Chicago Star as that icon; and these combined to inspire our choice of “Chi-Town Rising” as our name.”

The Rising Star, designed and built in Chicago by ONE618 and The Chicago Flyhouse Incorporated, is a thing of beauty. With a span of 70’6” tip-to-tip, it dwarfs icons used in cities around the world. It weighs 12,000 pounds, which is the equivalent of three pick-up trucks, and it has amazing lighting and video capabilities that will be revealed on New Year’s Eve.

How Chi-Town Rising’s Star compares to other cities’ New Year’s Eve icons

Approximately 34,000 pounds of steel make up the support structure; 24,000 pounds of steel I-beams are used on the front of Hyatt Regency Chicago, which act as guides for the Rising Star and the remaining 10,000 pounds of steel are on the roof of the building to support the cantilever. The structural steel portion of the Rising Star contains 900 bolts and the Rising Star itself contains over 250 bolts.

The Rising Star is comprised of over 2,600’ of 2” tube, which is close to half a mile of 2” tube. An additional 850’ of 1” tube is used in the assembly of the Rising Star. There are four control boxes, each containing 200 electrical terminations that will guide the motors to allow the Rising Star to ascend the building. Each of the four winch motors weighs nearly 1,000 pounds.

Chi-Town Rising will be broadcast live on NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago for those wishing to view the event for free. Those interested in attending the event live have multiple options for securing a guaranteed spot, including purchasing tickets to the outdoor audience area, the Corona Beach House party, or other partner events nearby. Official Hotel Partners have packages available that include admission to the event as well. Chi-Town Rising is a privately-produced, ticketed event. At the present time, the city has not designated any formal public viewing areas for the Countdown, Rising Star, and fireworks.

To learn more about Chi-Town Rising and be kept up to date on talent information, please sign up for the Chi-Town Rising newsletter on www.Chi-TownRising.com. For ticket information or to book your New Year’s Eve stay, please visit www.Chi-TownRising.com, and join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.