After redefining live entertainment with its groundbreaking venue in Las Vegas, Sphere Entertainment has begun teasing plans to develop scaled-down versions in new markets.
As the original Vegas Sphere continues to dazzle audiences and draw major musical acts for residencies—including Anyma, U2 and Backstreet Boys—its proprietors are looking to extend its reach with smaller, more cost-efficient versions.
Chairman and CEO James Dolan confirmed during Sphere Entertainment’s latest earnings call that Sphere is in the architectural design phase for “mini-Spheres” and is evaluating mid-sized cities as potential locations. The new venues would seat around 5,000 people, one-fourth the capacity of the recording-breaking original, which is both the world’s largest spherical structure and LED screen.
The concept addresses two key challenges of the Las Vegas venue: its high operating costs and the limited number of artists who can justify the production expenses of performing there. By scaling down the venue while retaining the spirit of its signature technology, Sphere Entertainment can ostensibly offer a similar spectacle at a more sustainable cost for both artists and audiences alike.
c/o Anyma
The Vegas Sphere demands a significant investment from performers, who must create custom visual content tailored to the venue’s wraparound LED display. While its been feasible for its high-profile residencies thus far, a smaller venue could attract a broader range of artists who might not have the budget or demand to fill the flagship Sphere location.
Beyond concerts, the Sphere brand has also proven successful with immersive films like V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film and Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth. Similar productions, which cost significantly less than traditional live performances, could be a major draw for such a mini-Sphere ecosystem, offering audiences a cinematic live music experience without requiring an artist’s presence.
With the Sphere concept in Las Vegas still in its formative era, Sphere Entertainment sees venue expansion as its next big growth opportunity, starting with plans for a forthcoming full-scale Sphere venue set to land in Abu Dhabi. The company has not announced a timeline for that venue at the time of this writing.