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\n A rendering of the proposed mini-Sphere planned for National Harbor. Image courtesy of Sphere Entertainment.<\/span> <\/p>\n The Las Vegas Sphere<\/a> has hosted everything from a U2 residency to a 4D cinematic experience showcasing The Wizard of Oz,<\/em> and most recently, Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet standing atop its massive LED screen. Now, a smaller version could be headed to the DMV.<\/p>\n Coming in at 6,000 seats\u2014roughly one-third the size of its 18,600-seat Las Vegas predecessor\u2014the smaller-scale Sphere is being proposed for National Harbor in Prince George\u2019s County. It would be a collaboration between the State of Maryland, Sphere Entertainment, and Peterson Companies.<\/p>\n State and county officials have already signaled support for the project. In a Martin Luther King Jr. Day message<\/a>, the Prince George\u2019s County Executive\u2019s Office highlighted the proposal, saying it would \u201cfundamentally change our revenue base, strengthen our long-term fiscal outlook, and elevate Prince George\u2019s County\u2019s competitive position for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n But not everyone is convinced the project\u2019s economic promise outweighs its potential cost to the community.<\/p>\n While the new Sphere is projected to create more than 7,000 jobs, local taxpayers and residents<\/a> aren\u2019t all as enthusiastic. Traffic surged following the opening of MGM National Harbor in 2016, and there are currently no public plans to mitigate additional congestion near the proposed Sphere site. The venue is also expected to cost more than $1 billion to construct, with roughly $200 million coming from a mix of state, local, and private incentives, according<\/a> to Sphere Entertainment.<\/p>\n Supporters say the venue could deliver economic and tourism benefits similar to those seen in Las Vegas, where Sphere Entertainment has reported that The Wizard of Oz<\/em> screenings alone generate roughly $2 million in revenue a day. According to projections released by Governor Wes Moore\u2019s office and Sphere Entertainment, the proposed National Harbor location could generate an estimated $1 billion in annual economic impact.<\/p>\n For now, however, the Sphere proposal remains in its early stages and still requires additional county and state approvals before construction or an opening timeline could be finalized.<\/p>\n