What Happened to Sphere at The Venetian Resort?
The Sphere at The Venetian Resort, initially known as MSG Sphere Las Vegas, is a groundbreaking spherical entertainment venue that opened in September 2023. It has redefined live entertainment with its massive interior and exterior LED screens, advanced audio, and 4D effects, hosting major residencies and immersive films. Despite a high construction cost of $2.3 billion, the venue has quickly become a significant draw, driving substantial revenue for its owner, Sphere Entertainment Co., and is now pursuing global expansion with plans for new venues in Abu Dhabi and National Harbor by 2026.
Quick Answer
The MSG Sphere Las Vegas, now officially called Sphere at The Venetian Resort, opened on September 29, 2023, with a U2 residency. It has since become a highly successful, technologically advanced entertainment venue, hosting various musical acts like Eagles and Metallica, and popular immersive films such as 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere'. As of late 2026, Sphere Entertainment Co. is reporting strong revenue growth, particularly from its immersive experiences, and is actively pursuing plans for additional Sphere venues in locations like National Harbor, Maryland, and Abu Dhabi.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Project Announced as MSG Sphere
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and Las Vegas Sands Corporation announced plans for the MSG Sphere, an ambitious spherical entertainment venue.
Construction Halted Due to COVID-19
Construction on the MSG Sphere was suspended due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, leading to initial delays in the project timeline.
Construction Resumes, Opening Rescheduled
MSG Entertainment announced that construction had resumed, with the venue's opening rescheduled for 2023 due to supply chain disruptions.
MSG Entertainment Takes Over as Construction Manager
MSG Entertainment assumed the role of construction manager for the project, aiming for greater control and transparency over the building process.
Apollo Global Management Becomes Partner
Apollo Global Management purchased The Venetian and replaced Las Vegas Sands as MSG's partner on the Sphere project.
Renamed 'Sphere Entertainment Co.' and 'Sphere'
Madison Square Garden Entertainment spun off its live events business, and the entity owning the venue was renamed Sphere Entertainment Co., with the venue officially becoming 'Sphere'.
Exosphere Lights Up for the First Time
The Sphere's exterior LED screen, known as the Exosphere, was fully illuminated for the first time, displaying dynamic visuals and instantly changing the Las Vegas skyline.
Final Construction Cost Confirmed at $2.3 Billion
Sphere Entertainment Co. announced the final construction cost for the Sphere reached $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment venue in Las Vegas.
Grand Opening with U2 Residency
The Sphere officially opened with the debut of U2's 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere' residency, marking the band's first live show since 2019.
Debut of 'Postcard from Earth'
Director Darren Aronofsky's immersive docu-film 'Postcard from Earth' premiered at the Sphere, showcasing the venue's advanced visual and sensory capabilities.
U2 Residency Concludes
U2's highly successful 40-show residency, 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere', concluded, having grossed $244.5 million from 663,000 tickets sold.
Debut of 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere'
The immersive production 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' debuted, quickly becoming a major financial success for the venue.
Plans for National Harbor Sphere Announced
Sphere Entertainment Co. announced plans to develop a smaller-scale Sphere venue in National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington D.C., with a capacity of around 6,000.
Sphere Entertainment Reports Strong Q2 2026 Earnings
Sphere Entertainment Co. reported Q2 2026 earnings, with the Las Vegas Sphere venue surging 29% year-over-year in revenue, beating analyst expectations.
Partnership with Disguise Announced
Sphere Entertainment Co. announced a multi-year technology partnership with Disguise to advance the future of immersive live entertainment and support global expansion.
Enhanced 4D Effects for 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' Debuted
Sphere debuted enhanced and expanded 4D effects for 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere', including animatronic elements and themed scents, as the show surpassed $500 million in ticket sales.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Sphere at The Venetian Resort, originally conceived as the MSG Sphere Las Vegas, represents a monumental leap in immersive entertainment architecture. Announced in February 2018 as a partnership between Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the project aimed to create a venue unlike any other, featuring the world's largest LED screens and advanced sensory technologies. Construction began with an initial estimated cost of $1.2 billion, but faced significant delays and cost escalations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and design enhancements, ultimately soaring to $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment venue in Las Vegas history.
Key turning points included the suspension of construction in March 2020 due to the pandemic, followed by its resumption in August 2020 with a rescheduled opening for 2023. In April 2023, Madison Square Garden Entertainment spun off its traditional live events business, renaming the entity owning the Sphere and its regional sports networks as Sphere Entertainment Co. The venue officially opened its doors on September 29, 2023, with the highly anticipated U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency, which ran for 40 shows until March 2024 and garnered widespread critical acclaim for its fusion of music and spectacle.
Since its grand opening, the Sphere has hosted a diverse array of artists, including residencies by Kenny Chesney, the Eagles, Dead & Company, Phish, the Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, Metallica, and Carín León. Beyond concerts, the venue has successfully debuted immersive films, notably Darren Aronofsky's 'Postcard from Earth' and the immensely popular 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere', which premiered in August 2025. The 'Wizard of Oz' experience has been a significant financial success, surpassing $500 million in ticket sales and over 4 million attendees by September 2026, and recently debuted enhanced 4D effects.
As of September 2026, Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) continues to demonstrate strong financial performance. In Q2 2026, the Las Vegas venue segment saw a 29% year-over-year revenue surge, contributing to the company beating earnings and revenue expectations, despite the MSG Networks segment continuing to be a drag. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue surging 38% year-over-year to $386.4 million, driven largely by 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere'. Sphere Entertainment is actively pursuing global expansion, with plans announced in 2026 for smaller-scale Sphere venues in National Harbor, Maryland, and Abu Dhabi, and discussions for a venue in Tokyo, Japan. A technology partnership with Disguise was also announced in September 2026 to further advance immersive live entertainment.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Sphere at The Venetian Resort made different choices?