Putting on a show
Social media has been flooded with images of a certain Las Vegas music venue recently. The Sphere at The Venetian opened its doors for the first time at the end of September, and it is fair to say it immediately wowed visitors with its unique design and mind-bending visuals.
a quantum leap forward for concerts”
Irish rock band U2 has just started its residency in the music venue, which was built by Madison Square Garden Entertainment to the tune of $2.3bn. U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere is a show that Rolling Stone has described as “a quantum leap forward for concerts,” while The Telegraph said it “will change live entertainment forever.”
If this has piqued your interest and you’re wondering what exactly The Sphere is, then look no further. VegasSlotsOnline News has done the hard work so you don’t have to, finding out everything you need to know about the hottest ticket in Sin City.
Here are the stats
Breaking it down
As you can see from our visual, The Sphere stands alone as potentially the most impressive concert venue in the world. It is 516ft wide and 366ft tall, making enough space for 17,600 people and 164,000 speakers. As for its now famous exterior screen, this features 1.2 million LED lights, while a 16K wraparound screen creates an immersive experience within.
The Sphere is the tallest spherical structure in the world, surpassing the previous largest structure – the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden – by 154 feet. The 262ft Kazakhstan Pavilion and Science Museum and the 249ft Montreal Biosphere also don’t hold a candle to Las Vegas’s newest entertainment venue, while Spaceship Earth at Disney World in Florida pales in comparison at 165ft.
the most expensive entertainment venue in Sin City history
Now for some costs. The Sphere is the most expensive entertainment venue in Sin City history, beating the Allegiant Stadium by around $400m. This actually wouldn’t have been the case if developers had stuck to the initial $1.2bn budget. It dwarfs the T-Mobile Arena ($375m), Colosseum at Caesars Palace ($108m), and MGM Grand Garden Arena ($28.4m) in terms of costs.
Meanwhile, the cost of advertising on The Sphere is also eye-watering. According to reports, companies will have to pay as much as $450,000 per day or $650,000 per week to advertise on the outside of the giant sphere. Microsoft’s Xbox and the NBA’s 2023 Summer League have both footed this bill so far, adorning the venue with their branding.
Finally, what about the cost for concert-goers? Well, one ticket to watch U2 will set you back between $140 and $1,500. The legendary rock band has added more dates due to popular demand, now playing the venue until February 18. Rumor has it that popstar Harry Styles may secure the next residency, although these are unconfirmed.