A Second US Sphere Could Come To Maryland (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0180617072
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/01/19/2320223/a-second-us-sphere-could-come-to-maryland
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/864192/sphere-entertainment-mini-venue-maryland-national-harbor
> The second US sphere would be built in an area known as National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland. Located along the Potomac River, National Harbor currently features a convention center, multiple hotels, restaurants, and shops. While Abu Dhabi plans to build a sphere as large as the one in Las Vegas, the National Harbor venue would be one of the first mini-Sphere venues [3]announced last March.
>
> Its capacity would be limited to 6,000 seats instead of over 17,000. But the smaller Sphere would still be hard to miss with an exterior LED exosphere for showcasing the "artistic and branded content" that helped make the original sphere a unique part of the Las Vegas skyline. The inside of the mini-Sphere will feature a high-resolution 16,000 by 16,000 pixel wrap-around screen, the company's immersive sound technology, haptic seating, and "4D environmental effects." For the AI-enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz currently playing in Las Vegas, audiences experience effects like wind, fog, smells, and apples falling from the ceiling.
[1] https://investor.sphereentertainmentco.com/press-releases/news-details/2026/Sphere-Entertainment-the-State-of-Maryland-Prince-Georges-County-and-Peterson-Companies-Announce-Intent-to-Develop-a-Sphere-at-National-Harbor/default.aspx
[2] https://www.theverge.com/tech/864192/sphere-entertainment-mini-venue-maryland-national-harbor
[3] https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/03/11/2143232/team-behind-las-vegas-sphere-plans-5000-capacity-mini-spheres
so what stock to short? (Score:2)
so what stock to short?
Losing even more money (Score:5, Interesting)
The Las Vegas sphere has been losing tens of millions of dollars every quarter. With this new sphere, maybe they can make up for some of those losses in volume!
Re:Losing even more mhttps://news.slashdot.orgoney (Score:2)
Maybe, since the first copy of anything costs a fortune to develop. The engineering costs for the second will be vastly smaller, and the content production costs probably none (though the content licensing costs probably increase in proportion to audience size).
apples falling from the ceiling. (Score:2)
What is the terminal velocity of a falling apple?
Smells? (Score:2)
Please don't let John Waters anywhere near this...
I doubt it (Score:2)
The las vegas sphere was such an absolute boondoggle and continues to lose money it's suprising there's any management left to throw out new, worse ideas.
I have to wonder... (Score:2)
As a Canadian, I don't know how many of the patrons of these facilities would - in saner times - come from other countries. But if tourist traffic is expected to be a significant source of revenue, they'd best put these plans on hold.
I know that various media outlets, chambers of commerce, and other not-impartial pundits are downplaying the huge drop-off in foreign tourists. These "news" sources ignore or outright deny the impact on tourism of the ICE gestapo, the additional friction and outright risk of cr
Re: (Score:2)
Yep. If the US continues on its current trajectory, it would not surprise me if most/all European countries boycotted the FIFA World Cup.
Very impressive, but costly. (Score:2)
Everyone that goes to it loves it. It is supposed to be an incredible experience. The problem is it was way too costly to build and they can't charge enough to make it profitable.
But it attracts a lot of people. Some may consider it a loss leader: something to bring people to your business where you lose money on it, but make money on the other purchases customers make.
Trump Sphere (Score:1)
Noice.
Re: Trump Sphere (Score:2)
Perhaps they'll build a pair of them next to each other?