Sphere Entertainment plans 5,000-capacity ‘mini-Spheres

The team behind the Las Vegas Sphere is considering opening scaled-down versions of the immersive venue in other cities.

In an investment call with analysts, Sphere Entertainment Co chief executive James Dolan said they were working on the design of ‘mini-Spheres’ that would be able to accommodate about 5,000 people.

The original Sphere, which cost about $2.3bn to construct, is home to the word’s highest-resolution LED screen and has seating capacity for up to 20,000 people.

But the venue demands a significant investment from performers, who must create customised visual content tailored to the wraparound LED display, which cannot be used elsewhere.

Broader range of artists

While this has been been feasible for its high-profile residencies such as U2, the Eagles, Dead & Company and Anyma, smaller venues could attract a broader range of artists who might not have the budget or demand to fill the flagship Las Vegas location.

By scaling down the size while retaining the signature technology, Sphere Entertainment Co can offer a similar spectacle at a more sustainable cost for artists and spectators.

The possibility of mini-Spheres follows news that a full-scale venue will open in the UAE as a result of a partnership between Sphere Entertainment Co and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

Beyond concerts, the Las Vegas Sphere has proven successful with immersive films such as V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film and the Sphere Expeience featuring Darren Aronofsky's Postcard from Earth, which In January passed 1,000 screenings.

Lower costs

Similar productions, which cost significantly less than traditional live performances, could be a major draw for a mini-Sphere ecosystem, offering audiences a cinematic live-music experience without requiring an artist's presence.

Sphere Entertainment Co's financial results for the three-month period ending 31 December 2024 revealed that revenues related to The Sphere Experience of $86.5m decreased $6.4m compared with 2023. This was primarily due to lower average per-show revenues across 190 performances of Postcard from Earth and V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film in the final quarter of 2024, compared with 192 performances in 2023.

Event-related revenues of $54.4m decreased $0.8m against the same quarter in 2023, reflecting six fewer concerts being held at the Las Vegas Sphere in the last three months of 2024.

"As we enter a new fiscal year, we see significant opportunities to drive our Sphere business forward in Las Vegas and beyond," said Dolan. "We believe we are on a path toward realising our vision for this next-generation medium and generating long-term shareholder value."

 

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