New details drop about National Harbor's forthcoming Sphere

Mimi Montgomery

An elevated city view with a large blue-and-white globe sculpture labeled sphere in the foreground, overlooking a river and long bridge, with autumn trees and distant buildings. — Rendering: Sphere Entertainment Co.

New details are emerging about the Sphere that's coming to National Harbor.

Why it matters: The project near the MGM National Harbor Casino would be the country's second Sphere — a flashy new attraction Maryland says could generate $1.5 billion in annual economic impact.

State of play: The venue will rise 302 feet above sea level once it's built, the Washington Business Journal reports off a preliminary concept site plan.

The $1 billion+ project will have 6,000 seats and stretch across 14 acres, with an exterior LED screen and a "16K x 16K interior display plane" for performances.
Plus: 4D-effects, haptic seating, "immersive sound," a VIP entry, a plaza connecting the sphere to the MGM, and covered pedestrian bridges,

The intrigue: The DMV Sphere would be smaller than the Las Vegas original, which is 366 feet tall and seats about 18,000.

Context: Prince George's County released plans earlier this year to expedite the Sphere's construction, with the hope of breaking ground in 2027 and opening in 2030.

What we're watching: More details are likely to come down the road: Sphere Entertainment, the group behind the project, hasn't submitted a formal application for the space yet.

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New details drop about National Harbor's forthcoming Sphere

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