Here's where the next Sphere is going to be built

Within a few years, the Las Vegas Sphere won’t be the only Sphere in the world.

New York-based Sphere Entertainment Co. announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached by the company with the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi, known as DCT Abu Dhabi, that a second Sphere will be built in the United Arab Emirates.

The company gave no indication when ground would be broken and when the new Sphere would open.

The company and DCT Abu Dhabi gave no cost estimate for the venue, which is expected to be comparable in size to the Las Vegas Sphere, which cost $2.3 billion after initial estimates of $1.2 billion ballooned over time.

The Abu Dhabi Sphere will be built as a partnership under a licensing agreement with Sphere Entertainment, but financial terms were not explained by the company.

Following the venue’s opening, Sphere Entertainment plans to maintain ongoing arrangements with DCT Abu Dhabi that are expected to include annual fees for creative and artistic content licensed by Sphere Entertainment, such as Sphere Experiences and the use of Sphere’s brand, patents, proprietary technology, and intellectual property and operational services related to venue operations and technology, as well as commercial and strategic advisory support.

Tourism to be elevated

“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, said in an emailed release. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

The chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi said the partnership would elevate the UAE’s tourism and entertainment industries.

“Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits,” DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a release, adding that the partnership will make Abu Dhabi a “vibrant hub for culture and innovation. By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we’re not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”

Sphere Las Vegas just observed its first anniversary after opening in late September 2023. The venue has dazzled thousands of visitors with live concerts featuring U2, Phish, Dead and Company and the Eagles and in December will launch a new residency with Afterlife’s “The End Of Genesys” featuring electronic dance music star Anyma.

Sphere also has regular showings of the film “Postcard from Earth” from director Daron Aronofsky and was host to UFC 306. For the second straight year, the Sphere will be a centerpiece with grandstands for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. Visitors attending the film also get the Sphere Experience, demonstrations of the technology used by the venue.

Other Spheres envisioned

Dolan has long said that another Sphere would be built somewhere else.

Plans had been made to build one in London at the site of the 2012 Olympic Village. But nearby residents, fearing a late-night bombardment of bright lights and advertisements, approached the mayor’s office about stopping the project. London Mayor Sadiq Khan put the brakes on the project, but later said he was interested in pursuing construction. By then, it was too late and Dolan pulled the plug on a London Sphere.

There were various reports that Sphere Entertainment was negotiating with parties in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates for the next venue, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that the company confirmed the next project.

DCT Abu Dhabi, the organization driving the growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and promoting the city as a global destination, said Abu Dhabi had more than 24 million visitors in 2023. That compares with 40.8 million visitors to Southern Nevada that year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The United Arab Emirates is expanding its resort profile with casino gambling approved at the under-construction $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island resort on 115 acres in the Ras Al Khaimah emirate on the Arabian Gulf inlet of the Persian Gulf.

The Abu Dhabi Sphere will be about 142 miles from the Wynn property.

MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Inc. also have resorts in the United Arab Emirates that would be closer to the Sphere site.

___