The massive 388-foot-tall structure being built next to the Venetian Hotel is visible to anyone who has visited the Las Vegas strip recently. When it’s done, the MSG Sphere will be the largest sphere in the world, and it’ll bring a lot of new attractions to Las Vegas. Even though the Sphere’s developers have been mum on many fronts, new information has emerged. What we know at the moment is as follows.
The sphere…what is it exactly?
The MSG Sphere is a creation of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., the same organization responsible for such landmarks as Radio City Music Hall and The Chicago Theatre. The sphere-shaped venue will be one of the largest on the Las Vegas Strip, with a capacity of 17,500 to 20,000. In a city with high expectations, this might be the most extreme action taken so far.
The MSG Sphere has a massive, wraparound LED screen and other cutting-edge audio/visual equipment, so it can play host to a wide range of performances. The one-of-a-kind layout and furnishings will enhance both live performances and bespoke, immersive media productions. Guests will be able to fully immerse themselves through the use of multi-sensory elements, such as a range of scents and temperature changes. The programmable exterior of the Sphere ensures that the structure and its content will be visible from all over the strip.
When Will The Sphere Open?
Covid-related delays and supply issues have pushed back the project’s completion, which had been planned for 2021. The Sphere is expected to open in September 2023, more than five years after it was first announced.
What kind of appeal does it have for visitors to Las Vegas?
Visitors to Las Vegas will experience a new kind of entertainment thanks to the MSG Sphere. The impressive glowing globe on its own may be enough of a draw for some people, but it will also feature performances by famous musicians and entertainers and a new film directed by an unannounced Hollywood director.
To create original, sphere-specific content that makes the most of the venue’s features, MSG Entertainment also opened a dedicated studio in California. Consequently, visitors to the Sphere can anticipate experiencing only the finest in audio, video, and performance art.
Only U2 has been officially announced so far. The upcoming Sphere performances by the Irish band were announced in a commercial broadcast during the Super Bowl last weekend. Once it opens, U2 will be the first band to play there, and they have high hopes for taking the concert experience to a new level.
U2 said in a statement that their music would be featured prominently throughout the MSG Sphere because “the Sphere is more than just a venue, it’s a gallery.” On the event’s website, ticket buyers can enter their email addresses to be notified when they go on sale.
What’s the big deal about The Sphere, anyway?
I was very impressed by the size and scope of the Sphere. The MSG Sphere is an architectural marvel that towers over even the Statue of Liberty, and its cutting-edge technology promises to dazzle audiences in unprecedented ways. As Chief Financial Officer David Byrnes told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “attending an event at MSG Sphere will be unlike anything anywhere in the world, and we expect it to become a must-visit destination for the global audience that visits Las Vegas.”
How will the sphere affect the Las Vegas landscape?
The 20,000-person capacity of the MSG Sphere makes it a prime location for establishing permanent residences for internationally renowned artists. Even though many well-known acts have regular gigs in Las Vegas, many of them are throwback acts that might not draw a full house every night.
There will be between four and six headliners performing in residence each year, with the company planning for each to play 10 to 12 shows.
