Sphere Entertainment Expands: Abu Dhabi Plans Second Location
The second Sphere of the world will be made in Abu Dhabi. This is going to happen after the success of the first one in Las Vegas. This announcement came from the Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, AbZ the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates confirmed the news on his official X platform.
Under the agreement Abu Dhabi will pay a franchise fee to Sphere Entertainment to use their designs. The local government will fund the construction and pay annual fees for creative content.
Details about the financing and the exact location in Abu Dhabi are still unclear. The government did not respond to questions about the project, and Sphere has not provided further comments.
The Las Vegas Sphere opened in 2023. The total cost was of $2.3 billion. It is the most expensive entertainment venue in the city of Lag Vegas. The sphere is featuring a high-resolution LED screen that wraps around a 17,500-seat arena. This massive structure stands 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, hosting concerts and sporting events.
The plans of second Sphere have faced challenges. According to the news sources Mayor Sadiq Khan of London rejected a proposal for a Sphere due to concerns about light pollution.
The Gulf nation Abu Dhabi is growing in several sectors including AI, tour and travel, green economy and more. This nation is working hard to set itself as a unique travel destination distinct from nearby Dubai. The UAE is also preparing to open its first casino, with construction underway in Ras al-Khaimah. Other emirates are considering their own casinos as well.
The Sphere concept is led by James Dolan. James Dolan is the executive chair of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers.
Sphere Entertainment shares rose over 6% to $48.91 after the downgrade by Benchmark.
Some ambitious projects in the UAE have faced delays with several initiatives put on hold during tough economic times. Sphere Entertainment has filed trademarks in Japan, Oman, and Qatar, but there are no specific plans for those locations yet.
