03/04/2025

Smaller Spheres Could Be Coming To Your City

Las Vegas’s Sphere is really taking off and investors now toy with the idea of setting up “smaller” Spheres as an expansion. A Sphere could very well come to your city. Las Vegas’ hub already boasts a U2, Dead & Company, Anyma, and The Backstreet Boys residencies since its inception. They even hosted a plethora of The Eagles and Kenny Chesney shows. Its incredible 16,000 speakers blast your favorite music with unparalleled visuals for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am still reeling from Anyma’s The End of Genesys show, what incredible display of talent and vision!

An investors call on Monday with Sphere Entertainment Company CEO, James Dolan, revealed this expansion rumor. One such idea is for a smaller Sphere coming to Abu Dhabi, where lessons learned from the Vegas venue shall apply to the new one. This venue intends to hold a 5,000 seat capacity versus the normal 20,000. Additionally, Dolan also teases that a new experience, a new show may also debut with the new venue. We’re sure to expect different features of the Sphere as it takes place in its second home in the UAE.

“We’re currently working on the architecture for a smaller Sphere, which we think will be deployable to more markets somewhere in the 5,000-seat range” – James dolan

Where To Go From Here?

Now, despite their lackluster financial quarter, Dolan insists on shrugging off these growing pains. Sphere Entertainment recorded a second quarter loss of $126 million and revenues down 2% from 2023. This resulted in a loss per share at $3.49. While it seems like a troubling time ahead, Dolan is not breaking a sweat. Surprisingly enough, much of the revenue come from the films that the Sphere plays including U2’s concert film of their residency at the venue and the “Postcards from Earth”. A minor setback came with Delta’s corporate takeover event in January, but the concerts still rake in $54.5 million. No wonder talks of expanding the Sphere venues is stirring. I think the world could use a few more “Orbi”s, the exosphere emoji is finally revealed. Its bright yellow sheen and smiling face looking down at the world beneath it. Walking up to the venue is exciting, eagerly anticipating what will be revealed on the inside. Taking advantage of the business and content already, anything goes with Sphere Entertainment this year.

“We are becoming more efficient, more efficient with content, we’re more efficient with how we operate the business, how we schedule the shows. And so I think that this upcoming year will obviously be our best year yet, but it will reflect a significant change in our efficiency and our results to the bottom line. That’s what we’re expecting” – James Dolan, on company earning’s call