Footage from the opening of $2b Las Vegas Sphere shows off its incredible power

Published on Oct 03, 2023 at 3:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Oct 04, 2023 at 11:17 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Footage from the opening of $2b Las Vegas Sphere shows off its incredible power

Social media has been flooded with clips of U2’s Achtung Baby Live concert at the Las Vegas Sphere and it’s revealing a completely new kind of concert experience.

The new ball-shaped venue in Las Vegas opened its doors to the public on Friday, September 29, allowing us to see inside for the first time.

READ MORE! Sin City just launched its new $2.3 billion MSG Sphere

Irish rock band, U2, opened the venue playing the first two-hour show of its 25-date residency.

The cheapest tickets currently start at $400.

The largest spherical structure in the world, it’s massive at 336 feet tall by 516 feet wide.

Its dome-shaped exterior is wrapped in more than a million LEDs too.

This means it can look like a smiley emoji, be emblazoned with the American flag, or be branded like it was by the Irish rock stars.

According to Sphere Entertainment, each one of the pucks contains 48 diodes, is about eight inches apart, and can show 256 million colors.

“The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard – it is living architecture, and unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world,” Guy Barnett said. 

@spherevegas

Step into the future. 🎥 transitionninja / Sphere Entertainment

♬ original sound – Sphere

Inside, the 18,000 seater sci-fi structure boasts 160,000 crystal-clear speakers and the biggest wraparound LED screen in the world.

From videos posted to social media, it looks like U2’s show at the Las Vegas Sphere is like nothing else that’s come before it.

@lynchmd

Never seen anything like this. #sphere

♬ original sound – Paul Lynch

The concert alternated between huge visual effects sweeping across the domed display and band close-ups for a fully-immersive experience.

One attendee said they’d “never seen anything like this” and described it as “one of the most incredible concerts of all time”.

Others found the sensory experience overwhelming.

In one video, someone can even be heard saying “oh my god, I’m gonna throw up”.

The Sphere’s future looks set to include sports events as well as live-streaming and live music.

Despite concerns about light pollution there are plans for a twin venue in London’s Stratford.


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Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.