The 6 coolest things about Sphere, Las Vegas' new high-tech concert venue
Taylor Rains
- The mesmerizing Las Vegas Sphere just opened in September, and its drawing huge crowds.
- The new entertainment venue currently hosts Irish rock band U2 and "The Sphere Experience."
The Las Vegas Sphere is Sin City's newest entertainment venue and has attracted celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and LeBron James since its September opening.
Irish rock band U2 is the colossal orb's first resident, playing 36 shows through February 2024.
When not hosting live music, the venue transforms into "The Sphere Experience," which includes a multi-sensory film and the opportunity to chat with an AI humanoid.
Eager to see inside the giant dome but lacking the budget for U2's $500+ concert tickets, I booked the experience for $49 and absolutely loved it.
Here are the 6 coolest things I found throughout the Sphere.
1. Sphere has a closet of different looks.
Social media has been littered with photos of Sphere's quirky outfits.
Anyone who has heard of Sphere has probably seen photos of the orb's displays lit up across its wraparound LED panels.
Sphere is comprised of more than one million LED lights covering the mammoth dome, which is the world's largest spherical structure at 336 ft tall and 516 ft wide.
This includes everything from an emoji face and a pumpkin to a creepy-looking eyeball and even Earth itself.
Other images have shown Sphere as a basketball, a snow globe, and the American flag.
Sphere can also take on more mystical looks with bright colors, and fun textures and patterns.
For example, the giant ball will have splotches of red and green, seemingly mixing together like a watercolor painting. Other times, the Sphere will shimmer silver and purple.
According to the venue, the orb can even be seen from space when fully illuminated.
2. You don’t have to fork out hundreds for a concert ticket to enjoy Sphere.
U2 is Sphere's first resident.
Currently going for $500 plus each, U2 tickets are outrageously expensive.
The concert has seen such high demand that Live Nation and Sphere announced 11 additional shows for January and February 2024, for a total of 36 during U2's residency.
Fortunately, Sphere offers its own experience, complete with AI technology and a show that bridges nature and sci-fi.
The show half takes the audience on a journey through space and across Earth's various landscapes.
It also touches on humanity's role in the damaged environment.
This means visitors won’t need to pay an arm and a leg for a concert ticket just to see inside Sphere’s inner dome.
I was relieved to see that U2 wasn't the only event happening at the Sphere.
3. You can talk to a robot named Aura.
The first part of the experience includes an hour of interacting with unique life-like tech before seeing a film.
Described as the “world’s most advanced humanoid robot," Aura is an android that uses artificial intelligence to communicate with guests.
Five Aura robots representing the topics of productivity, connection, innovation, longevity, and creativity are present during the Sphere Experience.
Visitors can interact with each one before the movie starts.
I spoke with Aura during my visit, and the conversation was pretty impressive.
Aura understood nearly everything I and others said, and it even got a little cheeky at times.
For example, one person asked the android if it could tell him what the taste of chocolate might be like.
The humanoid responded, with a pause in the middle: "You'd be better to answer this one … but maybe like dirt?"
According to Sphere, Aura is learning more and more every day.
"Hello, humans," the humanoid said in a comment on Sphere's website. "While I understand the most complex concepts of math and science — you remain a mystery."
"Your emotions, your humor, and your relationship with technology require further study, so you must visit me at Sphere," it continued. "I am excited to meet you and introduce you to the future of live entertainment at my new home."
In fact, one was responsible for explaining how sound was controlled inside Sphere via a little mini-game.
Basically, there were four circles on the ground, and as guests walked through each, the sound in that area would change.
The first round was four different instruments, the second was four distinct languages. The latter was really neat as I could clearly hear Arabic, English, Mandarin, and Spanish cycle through as I walked.
4. You can enter the Metaverse.
The futuristic technology doesn't stop at Aura.
As part of the experience, guests can step into "avatar scanners" to see themselves in the virtual world.
According to Sphere, the machines scan each guest and propel them into virtual reality. A video of their 3D avatar in the Metaverse will then be emailed to them.
I didn't try the scanners because of the long line, but I think it's an interesting concept.
Based on videos I've seen online, the video guests get looks cute but a little cheesy — though I guess it's still a cool souvenir.
5. The part sci-fi film, part nature documentary is absolutely mesmerizing.
The 50-minute movie is the second half of the experience and starts one hour after the doors to Sphere open.
The show, called Postcard to Earth, is shown inside an 18,000-seat theater on a colossal floor-to-ceiling screen.
Postcard to Earth was directed by Darren Aronofsky, but it's nothing like his hard-to-watch works like Requiem for a Dream.
To get the best views of the screen, book above the 100 sections. I loved my spot in section 304, row 5, seat 12.
I was shocked at the clarity of the images, which took viewers to places like Africa, Antarctica, and even underwater.
I loved that the show not only touched the beauty of Earth but also served as a reminder of the damage humans have done to the environment.
6. Postcard to Earth taps into more senses than just sight and sound.
The multi-sensory aspect made the show that much better.
During the show, the seats would rattle, air would blow, and natural smells would fill the room.
For example, a cool breeze flowed during a snowy mountain scene, while woody smells popped up during forest shots.
The movie is essentially what Disney did with its Soarin' ride in Epcot, minus the harness.
Soarin' uses the same multi-sensory aspects, but Postcard to Earth takes the concept to another level.
After visiting, I highly recommend the Sphere Experience. The movie was IMAX to the extreme and I loved the futuristic machines.
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