• The Sphere at The Venetian Resort, former known as MSG Sphere, is located in Las Vegas. AP
    The Sphere at The Venetian Resort, former known as MSG Sphere, is located in Las Vegas. AP
  • The Sphere lights up for the first time in celebration of the Fourth of July in America. AFP
    The Sphere lights up for the first time in celebration of the Fourth of July in America. AFP
  • It is the largest spherical structure on earth, standing at 115 metres tall and 157 metres wide. AFP
    It is the largest spherical structure on earth, standing at 115 metres tall and 157 metres wide. AFP
  • The venue will officially open its doors with a concert by U2 on September 29. AP
    The venue will officially open its doors with a concert by U2 on September 29. AP
  • The venue is set to host live events such as award shows or concerts as well as films. It can potentially also host sporting events such as boxing or MMA. Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal
    The venue is set to host live events such as award shows or concerts as well as films. It can potentially also host sporting events such as boxing or MMA. Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal
  • The Sphere has a capacity of 18,600 sitting, but can accommodate 20,000 standing. AP
    The Sphere has a capacity of 18,600 sitting, but can accommodate 20,000 standing. AP

The Sphere in Las Vegas: Everything to know about the massive round structure


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Images of the Sphere at The Venetian Resort, formerly known as the MSG Sphere, are making waves on social media.

The massive dome, billed as the world’s largest video screen, lit up for the first time during a dazzling Fourth of July display – in addition to this technological marvel, it is also the world’s largest spherical structure.

While there are still a few months for it to officially open, here's everything you need to know about the Sphere.

Where is the Sphere?

Located in Paradise, Nevada, it is very close to the Las Vegas Strip and east of the Venetian resort. It has a pedestrian walkway that connects it to the hotel.

How big is the structure?

It stands at 115 metres tall and 157 metres wide, making it what is considered to be the world’s biggest spherical structure.

When will it open?

The Sphere will officially open on September 29, with a performance by Irish rock band U2, who will also be kicking-off their three-month U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency.

What will the Sphere be used for?

The venue is set to host live events, such as award shows or concerts, as well as films. It can potentially also host sporting events such as boxing or MMA. Starting on October 6, it will host exclusive screenings of Postcard from Earth, a film by Darren Aronofsky that takes viewers on a tour of the planet. The Sphere has a capacity of 18,600 sitting, but can accommodate 20,000 standing.

What is it inside?

The venue’s interior has a unique 16K resolution wraparound LED screen that measures 15,000 square metres, meaning those inside will enjoy a view of the screen from every angle.

“The screen goes from ground to 250 feet high [76 metres], all the way around,” Rich Claffey, Sphere’s operations officer told CNN. “It keeps you fully immersed when you’re sitting in that bowl.”

The Sphere also has 164,000 speakers spread around the bowl designed to offer those in attendance the same level of sound quality. There is also opportunities for 4D experiences with haptic seats that vibrate and machines that can create wind or temperature as well as scent effects.

Who built it?

The Sphere was designed by global architecture firm Populous, who specialise in sporting facilities, arenas and convention centres. They designed Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Emirates Stadium and Etihad Stadium in the UK.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal estimates the project to have cost $2.3 billion.

UAE gold medallists:

Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.

All or Nothing

Amazon Prime

Four stars

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The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

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Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:

2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8

Oppenheimer
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Dubai World Cup factbox

Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)

Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)

Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)

Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)

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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle

Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)

Full list of Emmy 2020 nominations

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Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Ramy Youssef, Ramy

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

OUTSTANDING VARIETY/TALK SERIES

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

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Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Steve Carell, The Morning Show
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Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession

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Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
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LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
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Paul Mescal, Normal People
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Regina King, Watchmen
Octavia Spencer, Self Made
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

Little Fires Everywhere
Mrs. America
Unbelievable
Unorthodox
Watchmen

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dead to Me
The Good Place
Insecure
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Schitt’s Creek
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OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Better Call Saul
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Killing Eve
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Stranger Things
Succession

 

The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe

Four stars

Naga
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While you're here
Profile

Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

Updated: October 16, 2024, 11:37 AM