(NEXSTAR) – The Las Vegas Sphere is just the first of many round, bulbous entertainment venues that the venue’s operators are hoping to open.
The first Sphere, located near the Venetian Resort off the Las Vegas Strip, opened in 2023 after several years of construction. The venue now boasts state-of-the-art technologies using immersive wrap-around video screens to provide “next generation entertainment” and supplement musical performances to up to 20,000 spectators, its owners say.
“Every aspect of Sphere was designed to transport audiences to new places, both real and imagined, and The Sphere Experience is where that vision comes together in its most integrated form,” James L. Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment, said shortly after its grand opening in 2023.
But plans to open additional Sphere complexes had been discussed since before the Las Vegas venue had even broken ground. In 2018, Sphere Entertainment (then the Madison Square Garden Company) had proposed a Sphere be built in London, to open sometime after the Vegas one.
One of the many looks of the Sphere in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
“We believe a large-scale, next-generation venue will not only become a premier destination, but also drive growth in London’s overall music and entertainment market, benefiting artists and fans, and serving as a long-term investment in the future of this incredible city,” Dolan said at the time, per the London Evening Standard.
Plans for a London Sphere eventually came under criticism from the operators of other nearby venue, as well as local advocacy groups concerned about noise, traffic and light pollution. London Mayor Sadiq Khan ultimately rejected the proposal in 2023, with a representative for Khan saying the venue would have “an unacceptable negative impact on local residents,” the BBC reported.
Sphere Entertainment was also involved in discussions to bring other Spheres to places including Tokyo and Seoul, local outlets have reported in recent years, but it’s unclear if those projects are active. A representative for Sphere Entertainment would not comment on any existing plans for Spheres in either city.
Sphere Entertainment is, however, moving ahead with two other Spheres, including a smaller-scale version scheduled to open at National Harbor in Maryland, near the southern tip of D.C. The venue would seat around 6,000 people, but boasts the same LED screens as the Vegas Sphere, both inside and out. A press release issued earlier this year said the venue will also feature immersive sound technology “as well as haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.”
“This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history — proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore said of the project, which will be paid for with a combination of public and private funds.
Yet another Sphere — this time identical in scale to the Vegas one — is planned for the United Arab Emirates, where it will be located in “a prime spot in Abu Dhabi,” Sphere Entertainment announced in 2024. The venue would open sometime in 2030, Nexstar’s KLAS previously reported.
It’s unlikely that the Spheres in Maryland or the UAE will be the last of their kind, either. In January, Dolan said his company wanted to place more Spheres across “forward-looking cities.”
“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues,” he said in 2024.
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