The Sphere, the 366-foot-tall domed venue in Las Vegas with an eye-catching LED exterior, is getting a sister location.
What happened: Abu Dhabi will be the home of the next Sphere as the city continues its quest to become a top-tier tourist spot. It’s also a test to see if the Sphere concept can work outside of Vegas as the venue’s owner, Sphere Entertainment, plots global expansion.
- Since opening in September, the Sphere has dazzled moviegoers and concert attendees with its technical specs, including the world’s largest high-definition screen.
- Sphere Entertainment hopes a franchise model will stoke adoption, with operators paying fees for its designs, technology, and IP, to create a “global network of venues.”
Big picture: Despite early criticism, the Sphere has proved haters wrong. It has earned acclaim from audiences, and hosted dozens of high-profile events and sold-out shows — who among us didn’t have a friend whose dad made the trek to see U2 perform there?
- While the Sphere isn’t yet profitable, its owner posted a healthy US$273.4 million in revenue for fiscal 2024 and has seen its shares rise ~46% on the year.
Yes, but: Don’t expect Spheres to pop up everywhere. Titanic costs will scare developers — the first Sphere had a $2.3 billion price tag — and their sheer gaudiness will make them unattractive to many cities. Take London, whose mayor vetoed a planned Sphere.—QH
