U2 took immersive experiences to an entirely new level over the weekend as the first artists to perform at the world’s most captivating live entertainment theatre in Las Vegas, the MSG Sphere.
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You find yourself seated in a large dome arena. You’re there to see your favourite band perform live – but this show is unique to any other concert you’ve attended. As the opening act kicks off, mesmerising visuals begin to swirl, dance and morph around you. Sound cool?
🌇
📷: @RichFury / Sphere Entertainment pic.twitter.com/7F2JfmLjm5
— Sphere (@SphereVegas) October 1, 2023
The world’s largest spherical building, the MSG Sphere, became a point of attraction in Las Vegas after kicking off with its first-ever digital display on July 4th this year. However, it wasn’t until this weekend (29 September) that approximately 18,000 concert-goers got to see the immersive theatre from the inside for the first time.
Irish band U2 was the first to put the entertainment arena through its paces with their live Achtung Baby show, which kicked off this weekend on Saturday 29 September.
u2 x sphere 🌐
📷: @richfury / Sphere Entertainment pic.twitter.com/DMcifLoDCv
— Sphere (@SphereVegas) September 30, 2023
What makes the Las Vegas Sphere so special?
The Sphere – which took four years and $2.3 billion to build –marks a new era of live entertainment, functioning as an immersive theatre for live concerts, awards, ceremonies and other events.
The entire surface of the sphere (about 15, 000 square meters) is covered in 1.2 million LED light sources and 167 000 speakers, which creates the magic behind the venue’s immersive experience.
The high-resolution panoramic spherical LED is the largest display of its kind in the world and boasts the remarkable ability to display rich, colourful images across the entire surface of the dome, inside and out.
In addition to video enjoyment, 10,000 of the 18 600 seats inside the stadium are equipped with vibrational feedback technology that vibrates according to the content shown on screen. Think a Gold Reef City 4D movie on a much grander scale, with panoramic views…
The venue itself is about 112 meters high and boasts almost 30 floors. The Sphere can be seen from a distance in the city, especially at night.
getting some shut-eye after a busy weekend💤 pic.twitter.com/uc3710iXMy
— Sphere (@SphereVegas) October 2, 2023
After launching with a fireworks display earlier this year, the Sphere has displayed a host of eye-catching features on it’s external surface including a giant eye, a basketball, and a host of the world’s most gigantic advertisements.
Finally, on Saturday, the Las Vegas Sphere officially opened with U2 as the first band to perform inside of the unique venue. Here are some visuals from the concert:
@whatsinside We entered a portal to another world at the U2 Sohere concert. #sphere ♬ original sound – What’s Inside
@rtl2officiel Un immense écran, l’illusion parfaite pour le concert de U2 à Las Vegas 🤩 Vous aimeriez y aller ? 🎸 #u2 #u2uvsphere #sphere #lasvegas ♬ son original – RTL2
@steven_wolles Amazing visuals at the opening Sphere in Las Vegas with U2 #sphere #lasvegas #u2 #visuals ♬ origineel geluid – Steven_Wolles
Night 1 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/Vlu1pFAjSQ
— Sphere (@SphereVegas) September 30, 2023
Keen to make your way to Las Vegas for a show?
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Feature Image: Twitter / Rich Fury via Sphere