Sphere Opens (2023)

2023

Opened
September 29, 2023, with 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere'
Location
255 Sands Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169, connected to The Venetian Resort
Size
366 feet tall and 516 feet wide
Cost
About $2.3 billion, nearly double the 2019 estimate of $1.2 billion
Exosphere
580,000 sq ft of programmable LED, about 1.2 million LED pucks spaced eight inches apart
Interior screen
160,000 sq ft, 16K x 16K resolution
Capacity
17,600 seated; 10,000 seats with haptic 'immersive' features
Exterior first lit
July 4, 2023
Opening residency
U2: 40 shows, September 29, 2023 to March 2, 2024
The Sphere Experience
Premiered October 6, 2023, with Darren Aronofsky's film 'Postcard from Earth'

About

Sphere was developed by MSG Entertainment, the company now called Sphere Entertainment Co., on a site attached to The Venetian Resort. The building is a sphere 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. Its outer skin, the Exosphere, is 580,000 square feet of fully programmable LED made of about 1.2 million LED 'pucks' set eight inches apart, each with 48 diodes. The exterior was finished and lit for the first time on July 4, 2023.

The building took about five years to complete. Construction costs rose from an estimated $1.2 billion in 2019 to a final figure of about $2.3 billion, driven by inflation and supply-chain pressure from late 2020. When AECOM stepped back from its general contractor role in December 2020, MSG Entertainment took over construction management itself.

Inside is a 17,600-seat auditorium wrapped by a 160,000-square-foot LED screen with 16K by 16K resolution, which the company calls the highest-resolution LED screen on Earth. About 10,000 seats have haptic systems that let guests feel low-frequency vibration, and the venue can add wind, temperature changes and scent. The sound system, Sphere Immersive Sound, is powered by HOLOPLOT and has 1,586 speaker modules.

U2 opened the venue on September 29, 2023, with a residency built around the band's 1991 album Achtung Baby; it grew to 40 shows ending March 2, 2024. A week later, on October 6, Sphere launched The Sphere Experience with Darren Aronofsky's 'Postcard from Earth', a film shot for the screen. Sphere has since hosted residencies by other major acts and turned its exterior into a nightly piece of the Las Vegas skyline.

What to expect

Sphere's own site lists 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' as its current immersive film, with 4D effects, alongside concert residencies and events. The venue is at 255 Sands Ave., attached to The Venetian Resort, and offers group pricing for nine or more guests and premium suites.

You do not need a ticket to see the Exosphere, the programmable LED skin on the outside of the building; it can be seen from the surrounding streets at night.

More from the 2020s

Good to know

  • Sphere is not on Las Vegas Boulevard itself; its address is 255 Sands Ave., and it is attached to The Venetian Resort.
  • The interior screen and the exterior Exosphere are separate displays: 160,000 sq ft inside, 580,000 sq ft outside.
  • Roughly 10,000 of the 17,600 seats have haptic features; check seat descriptions if that matters to you.
  • U2's opening run was extended twice and finished with 40 shows on March 2, 2024.
  • Sphere's line-up changes often; check the official calendar before planning around a specific show.

Questions about Sphere Opens (2023)

When did Sphere open in Las Vegas?

Sphere opened on September 29, 2023, with the first show of 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere'. The band played 40 shows there through March 2, 2024. The Sphere Experience, featuring Darren Aronofsky's film 'Postcard from Earth', followed on October 6, 2023. The venue had been under construction for about five years before opening night.

How big is Sphere?

The building is 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. Its exterior LED skin, the Exosphere, covers 580,000 square feet. Inside, a 160,000-square-foot screen with 16K by 16K resolution wraps around and over the audience. The auditorium seats 17,600 people, and about 10,000 of those seats include haptic features that let guests feel low-frequency sound.

How much did Sphere cost?

About $2.3 billion. Construction Dive reported that the final price was nearly double the original estimate of $1.2 billion made in 2019, with costs climbing from late 2020 because of inflation and supply-chain pressure during the pandemic. MSG Entertainment also took over construction management after AECOM stepped back in December 2020.

How does the Exosphere work?

The outside of Sphere is covered in about 1.2 million LED pucks spaced eight inches apart. Each puck holds 48 LED diodes, and the whole surface is fully programmable, so it can show anything from an eyeball to animated art. It was first lit on July 4, 2023.

Where exactly is Sphere?

Sphere is at 255 Sands Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169, off the Strip rather than on Las Vegas Boulevard. The building is attached to The Venetian Resort, so visitors staying on that part of the Strip can usually reach it on foot through the resort. Check Sphere's own site for current entrances and venue maps before you go.

What can I see at Sphere now?

Sphere's website currently lists 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere', an immersive version of the film with 4D effects, plus concerts and special events. The line-up changes often, so check the official calendar. You can see the Exosphere's light show from outside for free.