Sphere at The Venetian Resort

Official address: 255 Sands Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89169, United States

Open date: 29th September 2023

Capacity: 18,600 (seated); 20,000 (including floor)

Peradventure, you find yourself cruising along the Las Vegas strip, through the high neon-ornamented casinos, there is hardly a chance you will miss the Sphere. This state-of-the-art structure, which was officially unveiled in September 2023, cost $2.3 billion to erect. It is so groundbreaking some have called it a World Wonder, while others have said it is an out-of-this-world venue.

A one-of-a-kind billboard, the Sphere commands 16K resolution LED panels wrapping around its orb-shaped exoskeleton. Flashing eyeball visuals, a planet earth outlook, an always winking smiley emoji, and ads for upcoming productions rival the bright lights coming from its surrounding resorts. The constantly shifting graphical displays often cause traffic from wonderstruck onlookers.

Located just off the Las Vegas strip in Paradise, Nevada, the Sphere is next to the Venetian resort, connected by a pedestrian walkway. Under the ownership of Sphere Entertainment Co, it was originally named the MSG Sphere at the time it was revealed by the Madison Square Garden Company back in 2018. Nonetheless, the new ownership came when Madison Square Garden Entertainment split in two in April 2023.

What’s on the inside

The idea behind the Sphere’s extra-unique build was to create an immersive experience that engages all the senses and ultimately takes attendees to an entirely new world of sorts. Its spherical shape does justice to the objective. Without any columns, everyone seated can enjoy an uninterrupted vantage point from just about anywhere on the inside.

The performance area is lit with a curvy 270-degree screen, regaling concertgoers in its over 18,000 seats with quick-shifting digitals. Every aspect of the venue, whether it's the VIP areas or entry bridges, is deliberately designed with performance and futuristic experiences in mind. Populous, a global architecture company, is behind its design, while ICRAVE was commissioned by MSG to handle its interior and lighting.

As a project, the Sphere proposed that the world of entertainment is on a forever-changing trajectory. Everything was considered for the entire space to be an activation, a thorough imagination of how it will be used for decades--if not centuries--to come. This entailed thinking beyond the conventional event space box. Sweeping curved bridges, lit bands, space feature lighting, and uninterrupted archways [do] transform the space for different occasions.

A sci-fi-like exterior

While the Sphere’s insides offer one of the finest entertainment experiences on the planet, the exterior does not fall short of catching the world’s attention, with creative vistas enchanting enough to make the gigantic dome visible from miles away. It also showcases opening displays for the Fourth of July celebrations, the American flag, an eyeball, a basketball, and then the Earth--all at once.

Las Vegas, and by extension, the world has seen visuals since the fourth of July on the Sphere because of the 1.2 million hockey puck-sized LEDs spread all over the structure’s outsides. To put that more into context, a hockey puck--which is often used in ice hockey--measures 3 inches in diameter.

In semblance to the interior, the screen on the exterior is the largest of its kind in the world. Reaching 53,883 square meters, it is a Brobdingnagian electronic billboard, a cinematic screen, and an art canvas all at the same time. How one sees it entirely depends on one's level of appreciation for art and architecture. Refik Anadol was the first to paint on the massive titantron, producing Machine Hallucinations: Sphere.

Upcoming events at the Sphere in Las Vegas

Here's a compiled list of upcoming events at the Sphere in Las Vegas, NV:

• Mar 26-31: The Sphere Experience - Postcard from Earth

Mar 26-31: Various showtimes from 2:00pm to 9:30pm

• Apr 18-21: Phish 4-Day Ticket (4/18-4/21)

Apr 18-21: Valid for all 4 days, cannot split by day

Apr 18 (Thu) - Apr 21 (Sun): Individual showtimes

• May 16: Dead & Company: Dead Forever - Live at Sphere

May 16 (Thu): Various ticket options, including suite reservation, reserved seating, and GA floor

• May 17-26: Dead & Company: Dead Forever - Live at Sphere

May 17-26: Multiple dates with various ticket options, including suite reservation, reserved seating, and GA floor

• May 30 - Jun 14: Dead & Company: Dead Forever - Live at Sphere

May 30 - Jun 14: Multiple dates with various ticket options, including suite reservation, reserved seating, and GA floor

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How to Get to the Sphere at the Venetian Resort

Thanks to its location in one of America’s best-known entertainment hostposts (Las Vegas), getting to the Sphere is not lost on anyone, particularly as there are various options to choose from.

Public transit is one of the most convenient ways to get there. The Regional Transportation Commision of Southern Nevada, known succinctly as the RTC, operates bus routes across Las Vegas, and can stop visitors close to the venue. Usually, a single ride costs $2, a 2-hour all access pass goes for $3, while 24-hour tickets are priced at $5.

Then there is the monorail option. The Las Vegas Monorail has a station conveniently located near the Sphere, providing quick-and-easy access to various points along the Las Vegas Strip. This transit system offers single rides for $5 and 24-hour passes for $13, with multi-day passes available at different rates up to $56 for a 7-day pass.

The Sphere is located at 255 Sands Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89169. If you are driving there yourself or in the company of friends, you can use GPS navigation or online mapping services. Nonetheless, the venue is easily accessible from major roads like Las Vegas Boulevard and Interstate 15.

On-site parking at the venue varies in cost, depending on the event, duration of stay, and time of the day or week. However, it typically ranges from $10 to $20.

Additionally, there are a handful of parking lots available around the venue’s vicinity, including the MGM Grand Parking Garage, New York-New York Parking Garage, Park MGM Parking Garage, Excalibur Parking Garage, Tropicana Las Vegas Parking Garage, and Luxor Parking Garage. Their rates vary from $10 to $18 per day.