Sphere Entertainment is expanding, with the new smaller-scale Sphere destination approved for National Harbor in Maryland.
The company behind the original Sphere attraction in Las Vegas announced plans for a second Sphere in the US earlier this year.
The new Sphere venue will be built at National Harbor, a major tourism destination in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
On Tuesday (27 October), the Prince George’s County Council approved issuing $215 million in bonds to fund the 6,000-seat entertainment venue, the Washington Post reports.
Maryland's new attraction will be the first smaller-scale Sphere and will cost around $1.4 billion to build.
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is an immersive experience where audiences feel like they have stepped inside the film Sphere
Smaller-scale Spheres will still feature an an exterior LED display called the Exosphere, and the new venue will include a 16K x 16K interior display plane – the world’s highest-resolution LED screen.
All of Sphere’s advanced technologies will be integrated, including Sphere Immersive Sound, as well as haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.
Sphere National Harbor is estimated to provide $1.6bn in economic benefits to Prince George’s County during the construction period, including 3,350 construction-related jobs.
Once operational, the total annual economic impact from Sphere National Harbor is estimated at more than $1.3bn per year, with another $200 million for other parts of Maryland.
Sphere's global expansion
The attraction is estimated to directly and indirectly support around 7,100 positions in Prince George’s County alone.
James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, said earlier this year: "Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities."
Elsewhere, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi has been chosen as the location for the first Sphere venue outside of the US, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
"Sphere Abu Dhabi is the first step in realising our vision for a global network of venues," said Dolan.
