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Sphere Entertainment has confirmed a replica of the 20,000-cap Las Vegas venue will be developed in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi
By James Hanley on 15 Oct 2024
image © Sphere Entertainment
The world’s second Sphere venue is to be built in Abu Dhabi, it has been revealed.
Sphere Entertainment and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi confirmed the longstanding rumours today (15 October), announcing they will work together to bring the next-generation project to life in the UAE capital.
Since opening the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas, US, in September 2023, Sphere Entertainment has pursued plans to develop a global network of Sphere venues, with the expansion expected to provide “significant growth potential and drive new revenue streams”.
“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” says Sphere Entertainment executive chair and CEO James L. Dolan. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”
The partners say the venue will be located in a “prime spot” in Abu Dhabi and echo the scale of the 20,000-cap Las Vegas original, which has so far hosted residencies by U2, Phish, Dead & Company and the Eagles’ ongoing run, as well as the Darren Aronofsky-directed immersive production Postcard from Earth.
“We are excited to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Sphere Entertainment, providing our residents and visitors with an extraordinary new form of entertainment,” adds H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chair of DCT Abu Dhabi. “Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits.
“This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation. By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we’re not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”
“By the time we open up another Sphere, we’ll really have got that operation down”
Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s second most populous city after Dubai, and gained the 18,000-cap Etihad Arena in 2021.
Under the terms of the new partnership, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise initiation fee for the right to build the venue, “utilising Sphere Entertainment’s proprietary designs, technology, and intellectual property”. Construction will be funded by DCT Abu Dhabi, with Sphere Entertainment’s team providing services related to development, construction and pre-opening of the venue. An estimated timescale for the development is yet to be released.
Following its opening, Sphere Entertainment plans to maintain ongoing arrangements with DCT Abu Dhabi, which are expected to include annual fees for creative and artistic content licensed by Sphere Entertainment, operational services related to venue operations and technology, as well as commercial and strategic advisory support.
Dolan discussed the logistics of constructing additional Spheres during the company’s most recent earnings call in August.
“When you take a look at this last year, we’ve really got much better at operating a Sphere. And by the time we open up another Sphere, we’ll really have got that operation down,” he said. “I keep thinking to myself, well, the next guy is going to really benefit from the fact that we learned this and we learned that, and we changed this policy and this procedure, we became efficient at this.”
The US company, which was formerly known as Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment, announced in 2018 that it was planning to build a 21,500-cap Sphere in Stratford, east London. However, the scheme proved controversial and was met with opposition from various parties including local residents, councillors and rival companies.
London mayor Sadiq Khan ultimately rejected the plans in November 2023, ruling it “would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”. MSG officially withdrew its planning application in January this year, saying it could not continue to participate in a process that was “merely a political football between rival parties”.
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