Is The MSG Sphere In Vegas Worth All The Hype?
By Melanie VanDerveer on July 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM EDT
By now, I'm sure everyone has seen photos of the new MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. It's incredible to see in pictures but even more so in person. During my recent visit "home" to Las Vegas, where I grew up, I got to see the sphere up close and personal from quite a few different views, and what an absolute treat it was.
So it's safe to say that the answer to the question about the hype being worth it is YES! The MSG Sphere is all the rage right now among tourists and locals alike, and I loved that I got to see it in person not long after they turned the outside on for all to enjoy.
Let's Start With Some Facts About The Sphere Talked About Around The World
It's large, in charge, and changing the Vegas skyline is a pretty cool way. And it's not just for decorative purposes. The Sphere will be just as functional as it is decorative for anyone who visits the area. You can see it from the airport and many spots around the Strip.
It's been discussed for years, and construction has taken a long time. They broke ground in September 2018 located near the Las Vegas strip just east of the Venetian. Madison Square Garden Entertainment recently announced that the new addition to the Vegas skyline will cost about $2.3 billion. As of May, the actual construction cost for the project hit about $2.08 billion.
According to a TikTok video shared by IGN, the MSG Sphere is big enough to fit the entire Statue of Liberty inside.
"The MSG Sphere is not only a building covered in LEDs on the outside, but the inside as well," they shared in the video. "The performance area, called the 'Bowl' includes its internal sphere with a 16k LED screen, holds over 17,000 seats, and will include complex machinery to create a 4D experience with sound, wind, and even smell."
It's not yet opened, and they only began lighting up the outside in early July, but when they do open, U2 will be the first performers in the Sphere. They'll be performing 25 special shows off their first album, "Achtung Baby."
"The Sphere will also be screening a film from David Aronofsky called 'Postcard from Earth,'" the video said.
It's A Pretty Amazing Sight To See In Person!
Photos and videos do not do the Sphere justice. While it is very cool to see all the videos and snaps online, seeing it in person was quite an exciting experience. With so much hype around it since it started to light up in early July, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it exceeded any expectations I could have had.
We got our first glimpse of the Sphere on our way to the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, for my son's college tour. It was early in the day, so it wasn't lit up yet. We then saw it again closer up on our Lyft ride back to the Strip after our college visit, and "wow" was the only thing we could say. But then, later that evening, just before sunset, we took a ride in the High Roller Ferris Wheel, and that view was possibly the most amazing ever.
From high up in the sky for the 30-minute ride, we saw the Sphere change many times. We saw the NBA 2K24 Summer League basketball, bouncing basketballs, the Earth, a snow globe, and a few other fantastic scenes.
If you're visiting Vegas anytime soon, you cannot avoid seeing the Sphere, but why would you want to? It's undoubtedly a great addition to the Vegas experience!
It officially opens this fall and is sure to be a big hit for all ages to experience. See more information about the sphere and upcoming shows on the website.
