As the record-breaking Sphere continues to redefine entertainment in Las Vegas, a doppelgänger is poised to do the same in Abu Dhabi.
The United Arab Emirates capital will become the second location to build a Sphere venue after the structure’s proprietors, Sphere Entertainment, reached an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” James L. Dolan, the company’s Executive Chairman and CEO, said in a press 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.”
At 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, the $2.3 billion orb in Vegas is the world’s biggest spherical structure. Inside, a bleeding-edge concert venue projects mind-boggling graphics on the world’s largest and highest-resolution wraparound LED screen, which extends over and behind the crowd.
Rich Fury/Sphere Entertainment
The news arrives after plans to open a second Sphere location in London were thwarted by the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, who reportedly turned down Dolan’s proposal on the grounds it would have caused “unacceptable harm to hundreds of residents.”
Located in a “prime spot” in the Abu Dhabi metropolis, the new venue is said to emulate the size and scale of its counterpart in Sin City, which has a capacity of 20,000. The Vegas Sphere generated over $1 billion in revenue in the fiscal year since its grand opening.
In other Vegas Sphere news, Anyma was recently confirmed as the pioneering venue’s first-ever electronic music headliner. Collectively billed as “The End of Genesys,” a reference to the superstar DJ’s stunning audiovisual brand and albums of the same name, the historic residency comprises eight shows: December 27th to January 1st and January 10th to 11th.
