It takes a lot to stand out on the Strip, but the design for a new Las Vegas spherical arena from Madison Square Garden and the Las Vegas Sands Corp. will certainly make an impact on the Sin City skyline.
MSG Sphere Las Vegas, to be located behind the Venetian and Palazzo, will be a 360-foot-tall sphere seating more than 18,000 people for concerts, awards shows and more. The new arena, set to open in 2020, will be connected to the Venetian/Palazzo complex via a pedestrian bridge. For those who are unfamiliar with Vegas, the Venetian and Palazzo occupy a prime spot on the Strip; they’re also major venues for conventioneers thanks to connected Sands Convention Center.
The design for a new Las Vegas spherical arena, from Populous, is designed to be state of the art when it comes to multimedia and sound, with interior and exterior digital displays, as well as luxury seating. From the Las Vegas Sun:
“We will host concerts, residencies and awards shows, corporate events/product launches and a wide range of other entertainment events, including next-generation events for audiences who want to be more connected, and even participate, in the event experience, such as mass gaming,” said Kimberly Kerns, senior vice president of communications for Madison Square Garden Co.
The sphere, 500 feet across at its widest point and more than 360 feet tall, could also be configured to host mixed martial arts fights and boxing matches, Kerns said.
MSG is building not one, but two spheres; one is set for London as well.
This would another venue in a market that already features T-Mobile Arena, Thomas & Mack Center, Orleans Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Mandalay Bay Events Center and an upcoming NFL stadium for the relocating Oakland Raiders. In addition, former NBA player Jackie Robinson has pitched a new arena for a 27-acre parcel between Fontainebleau and the SLS Las Vegas. The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights play at T-Mobile Arena, while the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces will begin play at the Mandalay Bay Events Center this summer.
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