In the vibrant landscape of Paradise, Nevada, a groundbreaking music and entertainment venue has emerged–The Sphere. Standing at an awe-inspiring 366 feet tall and stretching 516 feet wide it is hard to miss the enormous structure when driving by Las Vegas. The streamline design features a visual extravaganza in the interior with a remarkable 16k LED wraparound screen and an expansive 580,000 square feet of exterior LED displays. The sphere has gone viral for displaying animations such as emojis, the human eye, and a basketball. Beyond its visually captivating features, the venue offers a sensory feast to audiences through a state of the art sound system, equipped with beamforming and wave field synthesis technology completing the immersive experience.
Initially, The Sphere was established as a collaboration between the Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation but later bought by Apollo Global Management. The sphere was designed by the global architectural design firm that specializes in creating entertainment venues, Populous. Construction officially started on September 27, 2018, with plans that encompassed private suites, a museum, and retail strip. The project, originally known as MSG Sphere, was announced to the public in February of 2019.
The construction of this structure is not only a design challenge but a challenge of human force. A 152-foot-diameter giant ball in the middle of the desert with a 400-foot steel roof enclosing a seating bowl is not an easy feat. The workforce commenced with 400 workers and peaked at 1,500 workers as the project approached completion. The conclusion of the project was originally scheduled for 2021, but due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the grand opening was suspended with reports of construction disruptions in the supply chain.
The venue’s original owner, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, divided into two companies in April 2023, ultimately leading the Sphere Entertainment Company to take over ownership and renamed the venue to The Sphere. In its long-awaited grand opening on September 29, 2023 the band U2 performed their show “U2:UV Achtung baby”. Since the opening, Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan has reported bringing in profits over $75 million as of December 2023.
From music to immersive experiences, The Sphere offers it all. Looking ahead, The Sphere has an exciting lineup of performances and shows including The Sphere Experience, Phish, and U2. Tickets price points range from around $50 to upwards of $300, offering diverse options for audiences to immerse themselves in the future of entertainment. The Sphere stands as a testament to architectural innovation and promises to be a unique destination for those seeking adventures out of this world.