The MSG Sphere Las Vegas – Here’s Everything You Want To Know

There’s been a hum of excitement in the air about a new entertainment venue in Las Vegas. For most people, it started with a mysterious Superbowl ad that featured U2 and a spherical object floating over Sin City. For Vegas locals, it’s been an enormous construction site that’s been taking shape for years behind The Venetian.

The words on everyone’s lips are: what is this Sphere? In this article, we’ll uncover all the details about this groundbreaking new structure.

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What Is the Las Vegas Sphere?

It’s a Record-Breaking Construction

In 2018, developers Madison Square Garden Entertainment began the creation of Sphere: the most expensive Las Vegas entertainment venue ever built (estimated at $2.3 billion). The Sphere is now the world’s largest spherical structure, containing the world’s largest and highest-resolution LED screen. It is set to change the Vegas skyline, as well as the entertainment industry, forever.

It’s a Spectacular Structure

Located just east of the Las Vegas Strip, behind the Venetian, this incomparable piece of architecture stands over 360 feet tall and more than 516 feet wide. You’ll even be able to see the Sphere from space, lit up by 60,000 square feet of programmable lighting.

It’s a Benchmark for Entertainment

The Sphere is an entertainment venue that hosts mind-blowing concerts, award shows, films, and even sporting events like wrestling and boxing matches. With a total capacity of 20,000 people, Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s CEO James L. Dolan says that Sphere isn’t just a venue – it’s “a new medium that will redefine entertainment”.

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Sphere is now open, and it’s something you won’t want to miss out on experiencing for yourself.

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How Has the Sphere Taken Shape?

With Some Changes of Plan

Construction on the Sphere began in 2019 and it was originally expected to open its doors in 2021, but delays came in the form of supply chain issues because of Covid-19. The huge construction project has also surpassed its original expected budget by approximately $1 billion. So what’s gone into the creation of the Sphere?

With Lots of Science and Math

The planning stages of the Sphere took the form of a whole lot of ancient mathematical formulas applied to cutting-edge technology and engineering. The Sphere’s website gives insight into the fascinating design of the venue and the calculations that went into it, including the Finite Element Method, Geodesic Math, the Law of Sines, and Pi.

With Some Insanely Heavy Lifting

The 13,000-ton steel-domed roof of the Sphere was quite a feat to build. It required the use of the 4^th largest crawler crane on earth, which itself took 18 days to assemble. 32 trusses were installed as part of the roof, each weighing 100 tons. After that, 6,000 cubic yards of concrete were pumped onto the roof, weighing another 10,000 tons. But the cool thing about this incredibly heavy roof is that it’s self-supporting – it’s able to support 42 million pounds of weight.

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What Is Sphere Experience Be Like?

Stunning Visuals

Inside the Sphere is where the magic happens. The venue has 17,500 seats, standing room only for 2,500 people, and 23 VIP suites – a total capacity of 20,000 people. A screen the size of 3 football fields reaches up, over, and behind the audience, fully immersing you in the viewing experience. And it’s a screen with 10 times higher resolution than the best HD TV out there. Cool!

Magnificent Sound

The mindblowing sound system uses acoustic “beamforming” technology along with 157,000 ultra-directional speakers. This results in every seat in the house hearing what’s on stage perfectly, while creating unique sound experiences for every individual guest. The Sphere’s infrasound haptic system will enable you to actually feel the sound through vibrations.

Immersive Technology

That’s not all. You’ll be able to fully experience the performance on stage with 4D technology that allows you to smell the flowers on screen, feel the wind in your face, and hear sound effects as though they’re happening right beside you. In other words, the Sphere is about as extravagant as you’d expect Las Vegas to get.

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What Shows Can You See at Sphere Las Vegas?

U2: UV Achtung Baby

The rock legends U2 will be in concert for the first time in 4 years, and they’ve chosen this remarkable venue to perform in. U2’s members felt they couldn’t turn the opportunity down when they had a chance to see what the Sphere was capable of. The Edge described why he was drawn to the venue:

“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.”

Ticket prices for U2’s “UV Achtung Baby” residency at the Sphere aren’t cheap: they start at $995. But if you can afford it, this is one concert that is worth seeing. You can buy tickets here.

Postcard from Earth

Postcard from Earth, the Sphere Experience, is an entertainment experience that’s custom-designed for the Sphere’s technology. You’ll get a fully-immersive experience that includes all the cool things we’ve talked about: visuals and soundscapes beyond anything you’ve seen or heard before, along with seat haptics, 4D sensations, and more.

Postcard from Earth is only for audience members aged 6 and older. Tickets cost between $49 to $199, with a limit of 8 tickets. You can buy tickets here. 

What Are The Best Seats At The Sphere? Are There Any Bad Seats?

The Sphere is huge, so most seats will all give you an amazing 360 degree view. However, if you can afford it, you should avoid any seats that say “Obstructed View.” In addition, guests have reported limited views, such as not being able to see the full sky, in the 100’s section past row 20. Sections 200 and 300 will give you a good overall view. 400 level seats have great full views, but you will be very far from the stage.

When it comes to Sphere live concerts, if you want to easily see the performers in person, closer seats are the best. Otherwise, the stage can seem very small in this huge arena, but you will still experience the full visual effects. As mentioned, sections 200 and 300 will give you a good stage view and full access to the visual effects.

Where Can I Park My Car?

The Sphere has very limited parking, so it can be very expensive. Expect to pay between $47 to $125 for regular parking depending on the show, and even more for valet parking. A more economical alternative is to park at the nearby Venetian and Palazzo, or Wynn / Encore parking garage.  The Howard Hughes Center, located just east of the venue has reasonable parking fees.  If you don’t mind walking more, Flamingo, Harrah’s, The Linq, and Horseshoe are good options to lower your costs. There is also free parking at Treasure Island and the Fashion Show Mall. See our hotel parking guide and Vegas hotel map for specific hotel parking rates and walking distances. Of course, you can also consider using a rideshare/taxi and just skip the parking hassle, and they have a rideshare drop off at the main door.

What Can I Bring With Me?

The Sphere is very strict when it comes to bags. You are only allowed to bring one item under 6×6 inches and they have the right to search the contents.

Are There Any Medical Conditions That Would Prevent A Person From Attending?

If you have things like vertigo, motion sickness, fear of heights, or are sensitive to strobes, flashing lights and strong sounds/movement, you should consult with your doctor about attending. The Sphere is ADA friendly and has elevators available. The seats are big enough for most plus-size guests. However, the aisles are narrow. They have wind machines too, so if you get cold easily, you might want to bring a light sweater or jacket.

How Old Do You Need To Be To Attend The Sphere?

All visitors must be over 6 years-old or older to see a show.

Do They Have Any Food Or Concession Stands?

Each level offers food and drinks starting at about $15-20 per item. Items include burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, waffle fries, chips and dip, popcorn, candy, spicy peanuts, ahi tuna poke bowls, and pork belly bulgogi sandwiches, Straws are not provided for drinks. Alcoholic drinks and beer are available and range from $15-$30. There are many self-service options too so you don’t need to wait long.

More Sphere Shows and Information