Detroit’s New Year’s Eve ‘D Drop’ heads to Beacon Park
DTE Energy’s Motor City NYE, known as “the Drop,” will move from Campus Martius Park to Beacon Park, located at Grand River and Cass.
“We are honored to host ‘the Drop’ at Beacon Park,” said Jerrid Mooney, founder of Motor City NYE and the Drop. “The location has been very popular since the grand opening and has become Detroit’s new favorite public park.”
Since 2009, the free New Year’s Eve event held at Campus Martius in the downtown’s core had become larger and has now outgrown that space, Mooney said. An estimated 35,000 attended last year’s event at Campus Martius.
“After coordinating with city officials, reviewing road closure options and the upcoming construction footprint of the area, we have selected Beacon Park as the home for the for the 2018 event,” he said.
Not only will there be a location change for the celebration, but new surprises are in store throughout the night for attendees.
“This year’s event will be the biggest yet with a new surprise at midnight, a larger ‘surround stage’ that allows revelers the chance to gather around and under the stage,” Mooney said. “In addition to the Drop’s VIP event, ‘the Motown Countdown,’ we have also added a second more casual ticketed event called ‘the Celebration’ that both offer full-bar service, live entertainment, dancing, balloon drop and midnight pizza.”
Nancy Moody, vice president of public affairs for DTE Energy Co., said the utility wants to keep the Detroit tradition going each year for New Year’s Eve.
“Beacon Park’s energy and beauty will provide the ideal backdrop for ringing in the new year,” she said. “We’re proud to support this Detroit tradition and to provide the venue for partygoers and families alike to celebrate a one-of-a-kind New Year’s Eve.”
Kaitlyn Cora, dining manager at the Detroit Beer Co. on Broadway, said even with the changes in parks for the New Year’s Eve celebration, the bar will likely not see a decline in guest traffic or revenue.
“Change is good. I think this is a good move to have the event at Beacon Park. It’s much bigger,” she said. “As for our business, I assume we will still do well no matter if the event is at Campus Martius or Beacon Park.”
Kevin Murphy, 36, of Detroit said he’s ready to share the Detroit New Year’s Eve experience with families and friends.
“I have always watched New York’s Times Square NYE celebration on TV, but it feels good to know I can take a walk around the park and be in my neighborhood,” he said. “Since my nieces and my two best friends are in town they will be joining me at the park for the countdown.”
The New Year’s Eve celebration will be held 4 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday, and it will feature two heated and carpeted party pavilions with musical performances and free activities and games.
For more information, visit www. MotorCityNYE.com or call (313) 355-0413.
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