This fall, the brightest spot on Earth will become even more prosperous. The MSG sphere, a massive orb-shaped music venue, is currently under construction on the Las Vegas strip, next to the Venetian hotel.
The new venue is the latest project from Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., the company behind some of the most famous music venues in the country. Towering at 388 feet with an estimated capacity of 17,500 to 20,000 people, it will be the largest spherical structure in the world.
In the extended version of the ad shown on Super Bowl Sunday, fans of the Irish rock group U2 get teleported to a barren Nevada desert before a massive sphere descends from the sky; the band leads fans towards the mysterious object before a baby visage appears on the Sphere, whispering, “There is room for everybody…Achtung.” Finally, the screen cuts to black as the project’s name, ‘U2: UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere,’ appears.
Along with state-of-the-art music performances, the MSG sphere’s exterior will be programmable, its visuals seen all over the Las Vegas strip. Inside, there will be 4D technology for further immersion; the audience will feel the wind on their faces and hear all sound effects up close as if they were part of the action.
U2 band members Bono, the Edge, and Adam Clayton will make an appearance. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. will not attend due to recovering from back surgery, but fellow musician Bram van den Berg will perform in his place.
The Edge commented, “The beauty of the Sphere is not only the groundbreaking technology that will make it so unique, with the world’s most advanced audio system, integrated into a structure which is designed with sound quality as a priority; it’s also the possibilities around immersive experience in real and imaginary landscapes. In short, it’s a canvas of an unparalleled scale and image resolution and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We all thought about it and decided we’d be mad not to accept the invitation.” As of now, U2 is the only confirmed act, but the company plans to have 4 to 6 headliners per year with 10-12 shows each.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. is optimistic about this new venture. In a statement, CEO James L. Dolan said, “MSG Sphere’s advanced technology allows a legendary band like U2 to bring its music to life in entirely new ways. The Sphere is a new medium that will redefine entertainment.”
Originally planned to open in 2021 but pushed back due to COVID, the MSG sphere will launch in September 2023.