The record-breaking building could be heading to Abu Dhabi.
The UAE loves a megaproject. The country is home to the world’s tallest buildings, manmade islands and there are exciting megaprojects in the works. Now, the state-of-the-art entertainment venue, MSG Sphere, could be heading to Abu Dhabi. First created in Las Vegas, the sphere is an LED wrapped hall, which hosts live entertainment.
The megaproject was proposed to be situated in Stratford, East London. The structure would have been able to hold 21,500 people, and it would have been 100 metres tall and 120 metres wide. The plans were rejected by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The concerns included light pollution, the electricity bill and its green credentials.
Las Vegas’ MSG Sphere has been a controversial project. It is reported that the construction rose to $2 billion, and that it was more than $1 billion over budget. The entertainment venue opened in September 2023, and hosted a 40-show residency from U2. Plus, director Darren Aronofsky's documentary Earth opened at the venue.
Now, there are reports that the developers are looking overseas. The company stated that they are in serious discussions with multiple international markets. The developers originally aimed to build MSG Spheres in Saudi Arabia and South Korea, however, the plans have stalled. Now, it is reported that the UAE is a major consideration.
The UAE already has a range of entertainment venues, from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi to Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. In UAE-style, MSG Sphere would be a record-breaking building, as it boasts the world’s largest LED screen and is the largest spherical building in the world. Designed by Populous, the structure stands at 112 metres high and 157 metres wide. The exterior includes a 16K resolution wraparound LED screen, and is the largest resolution of its kind in the world. Plus, the venue can hold up to 20,000 people, and the dome is made up of 3,000 tons of steel.
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GO: Visit www.thespherevegas.com for more information.