Although original estimates set the cost of the Las Vegas Sphere at $1.2 billion, Sphere Entertainment eventually spent around $2.3 billion to build the interactive venue. As the company looks to expand to other cities, it’s also looking to scale down the venue, making it more affordable to build and operate.
Sphere Entertainment is currently working on a design for mini-Spheres with a capacity of about 5,000 people, the company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, James Dolan, told analysts during an investment call, according to a report by AV Magazine. The Las Vegas Sphere can seat 17,600 people, but attendance can be closer to 20,000 with standing capacity.
Smaller versions of the Sphere that require less property (and parking) would not only be much cheaper to build, they could potentially also attract a wider range of artists. Designing and producing the custom video content needed to fill the Las Vegas’ Sphere’s interior 160,000-square-foot LED screen requires a hefty investment from performers. So far the venue has hosted established bands like the Eagles, Phish, and U2, who enlisted the help of effects studio Industrial Light and Magic to help create the unique visuals for its Sphere show. Not every band has that kind of budget.
The mini-Spheres would still feature giant wraparound screens and provide similarly immersive experiences as the original venue. During its 40-show residency at the Sphere, U2 recorded one of its performances and created an immersive concert film that’s cheaper for fans than seeing the band live. Similar concert films could be screened at the mini-Spheres, providing more opportunities to recoup the cost of live performances, or be created as an alternative to artists performing live.
