The Sphere, a brand-new entertainment venue on the Las Vegas Strip, claims to be a “next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment” – but is that true?
Standing at over 366 ft. tall, the Sphere is the world’s largest spherical structure. It has a 580,000 sq. ft. fully programmable LED exterior and a 160,000 sq. ft. LED display canvas. It is the world’s largest beamforming audio system, a technology that allows for the mapping and measuring of sound intensity and pressure. Considering the number of times the expression “world’s largest” is thrown around in conversation about the venue, it is hard to dispute the fact that it is sailing uncharted waters.
I’d say that the Sphere happens to be braving this new world of entertainment all by itself.
Seeing just one of the countless clips going viral of the performance that U2, the world-famous Irish rock band, is putting on in Las Vegas tells you everything you need to know about how vastly important this venue could be to the future of live entertainment.
Dante from Barstool Sports went to see U2 play a show at the venue on Oct. 19th. After the fact, when tasked with writing about it, Dante said “I woke up this morning and sat down trying to attempt to write this blog, but my brain was still spattered on the walls of my hotel room.” The show, he said, blew his mind.
While U2 didn’t garner its fame by putting on bad shows for over 40 years, the Sphere itself is what makes this performance so stellar. Each song the band plays is accompanied by incredible visuals, made possible by the thousands of LEDs that make up the interior of the venue. While the band has always leaned on visuals to aid their performance, this is a whole new world.
Comparable to the Disney ride “Soarin’,” the Sphere fully immerses the audience in the world that has been crafted by the band. During “Where the Streets Have No Name”, a deserted wasteland spans out behind the stage, appearing as if it goes on for miles. As the sun rises on the world on screen, the whole concert hall glows with orange light. When daylight finally floods the desert plain, it appears as if the audience has somehow exited the venue and come back out into the real world. That is truly how believable these LED projections are.
“The future of live entertainment, or at least a portion of it, will be more and more immersive,” Andrew Luft, vice president of partnerships at Vibee, said in an interview with BIV. “Fans are looking for more backstory, more engagement and beyond just sitting in the seat and attending the show.”
And the technology that makes the Sphere so special certainly does this. People want a spectacle these days, something more than just hockey arenas and tiny clubs that line downtown streets. And U2 is certainly doing all of that and more at the Sphere.
While the Sphere might not be everybody’s cup of tea, it is certainly a game changer in the world of live entertainment. Upgrading from the typical big screen, the Sphere has taken the norm and turned it on its head. The world of entertainment may not ever be the same.
