The Sphere venue in Las Vegas made its highly anticipated debut over the weekend with electrifying concerts by the legendary band U2. After years of anticipation, during which a mysterious spherical structure gradually took shape on the city’s skyline, visitors were finally granted access to this enigmatic spectacle.
This $2.3 billion endeavor, hailed as the future of entertainment venues, has been teasing onlookers with its massive LED screen, which can transform the spherical structure into various captivating forms, from a planet to a basketball, and even a blinking eyeball.
The burning questions on everyone’s minds: Does the Sphere live up to its immense hype? Do the interior visuals match the awe-inspiring exterior? Is U2, a beloved Irish band in the twilight of their career, the right choice to inaugurate this colossal, orb-like arena? The answers: Yes, yes, and yes, with a few important considerations.
Attempting to describe the experience of a Sphere concert is a challenge, as it defies easy comparison. It’s akin to finding oneself inside a gigantic planetarium or a turbocharged IMAX theater within an enormous spaceship.
Constructed by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, the Sphere proudly boasts the title of the world’s largest spherical structure, standing at 366 feet tall and spanning 516 feet in width, capable of accommodating the entire Statue of Liberty from base to torch with room to spare.
Its cavernous, amphitheater-style interior features a stage at its core, flanked by what is claimed to be the world’s largest and highest-resolution LED screen. This colossal screen envelops and surrounds the audience, virtually consuming their entire field of vision.
In today’s era of multimedia entertainment, terms like “immersive” are often thrown around liberally, but the Sphere truly lives up to this label. After speaking with several concertgoers, it’s evident that they were left awestruck by the venue.
Dave Zittig, who traveled with his wife Tracy from Salt Lake City to attend Saturday night’s show, exclaimed, “It’s an overwhelming experience visually… it was mind-boggling. And they picked the right band to open it with. We’ve been to concerts around the world, and this is the coolest venue we’ve been to.”
The inaugural offering at the Sphere is “U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere,” a series of 25 concerts centered around the Irish band’s seminal 1991 album “Achtung Baby,” running through mid-December. Despite ticket prices ranging from $400 to $500 for premium seats, most of the shows are sold out.
The Friday night launch was accompanied by tremendous buzz, featuring a star-studded red-carpet premiere attended by luminaries like Paul McCartney, Oprah, Snoop Dogg, Jeff Bezos, and a host of other celebrities. Some were surely pondering how to secure their own performances at the Sphere.
The coming week heralds the debut of “Postcard From Earth,” a film directed by Darren Aronofsky, set to fully exploit the Sphere’s mammoth screen with an immersive planetary tour. Additional concerts are slated for 2024, although the featured artists remain undisclosed.
Access to the Sphere is facilitated by pathways and parking lots, with the Venetian resort offering the most straightforward access via a pedestrian walkway as a partner in this ambitious venture.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a soaring atrium adorned with suspended sculptural mobiles and lengthy escalators leading to higher levels. However, the true centerpiece is the theater itself and its encircling LED canvas, boasting an astonishing 268 million video pixels – an impressive figure by any measure.
The screen is indeed a sight to behold and, at times, can overshadow the live performers. Finding the ideal seat depends on your preference for proximity to the artist. The 200 and 300 levels offer a direct view of the central screen, while lower-level seats bring you closer to the stage but might require a bit of neck-craning. Be forewarned that some rear seats in the lowest section may have obstructed views.
U2, consisting of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and guest drummer Bram van den Berg filling in for Larry Mullen Jr., who was recovering from surgery, delivered a passionate performance that spanned their repertoire from energetic rock anthems like “Even Better Than the Real Thing” to soul-stirring ballads such as “One.”
With their devoted following, grandiose compositions, and a history of pushing technological boundaries, particularly during their Zoo TV tour, U2 seemed perfectly at home in the pioneering environment of the Sphere.
The band graced a simple stage resembling a turntable, with most members centered on the circular platter, while Bono occasionally ventured to its periphery. Virtually every song was enhanced by animations and live footage on the colossal screen.
Bono seemed to fully embrace the Sphere’s surreal visuals, remarking, “This whole place feels like a distortion pedal for the mind.”
The wraparound screen seamlessly balanced grandiosity and intimacy. During certain moments, Bono, The Edge, and the other band members appeared in 80-foot-tall video projections suspended above the stage.
Sphere’s producers promised state-of-the-art sound, and they delivered, thanks to thousands of embedded speakers throughout the venue. Bono’s words were crystal clear, and the band’s volume maintained a perfect equilibrium, avoiding the common pitfall of overly muddled sound.
Rob Rich, who flew in from Chicago with a friend for the show, remarked, “I go to a lot of concerts, and I usually wear earplugs, but I didn’t need them for this one. It was so immersive. I’ve seen U2 eight times, and this is the standard now.”
In the midst of their performance, U2 temporarily departed from “Achtung Baby” to deliver an acoustic set of songs from “Rattle and Hum.” During this segment, the visuals became simpler, allowing the stripped-down music to shine, offering some of the most memorable moments of the night. It served as a reminder that while visual effects are impressive, exceptional live music can stand alone.
Saturday’s show marked only the second public event at the Sphere, and some kinks were still being worked out. The band started about half an hour late, citing “technical issues,” and there was a moment when the LED screen appeared to malfunction, freezing on one image for several minutes during multiple songs.
Nonetheless, the majority of the visual effects were breathtaking. At one point, the screen created a mesmerizing optical illusion, making it seem as though the venue’s ceiling was descending upon the audience. During “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World,” a real-life rope of knotted bedsheets connected to a virtual balloon high above, adding a unique dimension to the performance. “Where the Streets Have No Name” treated the audience to a sweeping time-lapse video of the Nevada desert, complete with the sun’s journey across the sky, momentarily transporting everyone outdoors.
Sphere represents a significant financial gamble, and its potential for hosting other artists in this innovative space remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the venue is off to a promising start, hinting at what may very well be the future of live entertainment.
Topics #$2.3 billion endeavor #entertainment venues #las vegas #Sphere venue #stage #U2 concerts
