Sphere Expands East With Washington D.C. Area Venue Plans

Sphere Entertainment Co. confirmed plans to build a new Sphere in the Washington D.C. area. Announced in conjunction with the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County and Peterson Companies, the location for the second Sphere in the U.S. is proposed for National Harbor just south of the nation’s capital.

Sphere National Harbor is a scaled down version of the Las Vegas Sphere in terms of capacity and would be the first smaller-scale Sphere with 6,000 seats. Sphere National Harbor, however, would utilize the same cutting edge technologies as the larger version including the Exosphere exterior LED display, a 16K x 16K interior display, Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.

“Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment James L. Dolan stated. “Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area.”

A press release provided additional details on the proposed Sphere National Harbor:

This project would utilize a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. Sphere would support approximately 2,500 jobs during the construction phase, and 4,750 jobs once operational, in addition to generating millions in additional revenue for the County and State. Once open, the economic impact of Sphere National Harbor is expected to be greater than $1 billion annually.

Located just 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., National Harbor is a top entertainment and tourism destination in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region. Situated along the Potomac River, National Harbor offers world-class entertainment, dining, retail, gaming, convention, and leisure activities to more than 15 million visitors annually. A Sphere at National Harbor would become a major year-round draw, offering an array of immersive experiences, including original Sphere Experiences, concerts, and brand events, for residents and the millions of domestic and international visitors who travel to the area each year.