A smaller version of Las Vegas’ Sphere coming to Washington DC area

Las Vegas massive venue and AV marvel, Sphere, opened in 2023 and has been a big hit with artist residencies (U2, Phish, The Eagles), movies (The Wizard of Oz), and more. It’s now expanding, with a Sphere coming to the Washington DC area. Plans were announced on Monday for construction at the National Harbor in Maryland which already has a casino and giant ferris wheel The Capital Wheel.

This will be a smaller Sphere than the one in Las Vegas, with 6,000 seats compared to the 18,600 capacity of the original, but will still have the distinctive “Exosphere” covered in LEDs.

“Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” said James L. Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment. “Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area.”

“Maryland has a long history of providing world-class entertainment and we could not be more excited to work with Sphere Entertainment to bring this cutting-edge project to life,” added Governor Wes Moore. “This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history – proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life. We’re excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits.”

Sphere Entertainment says the project will mean 2,500 jobs during construction and 4,750 jobs once it opens, and their press release said it will bring “millions in additional revenue for the county and state.”

No word on when the Sphere at National Harbor will open. Stay tuned.

Plans for a Sphere in London were a announced in 2024 but the project was scrapped after the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, turned down the application, saying it would cause “unacceptable harm” to residents.