New look at National Harbor's Sphere as county advances design
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Sphere would neighbor the MGM Casino. Image: Sphere Entertainment Co.'s filings with Prince George's County
Here come the bright lights: The Sphere at National Harbor will be a 302-foot-tall glowing orb just off the Beltway.
Why it matters: New images show how the futuristic entertainment venue would light up the DMV skyline, a mini version of the Las Vegas original.
Driving the news: Prince George's County planning commissioners advanced plans for the 6,000-person Sphere's design Thursday.
- Outside: An exterior LED that would be less bright than the larger Vegas Sphere.
- Inside: There would be a 16K wraparound screen, with immersive sound and 4D effects like vibrating seats.
Friction point: An off-site parking site is yet to be finalized, with approximately 2,100 spaces needed.
- Sphere is required to build out the parking before the venue can open, officials said.
- Covered walkways would also greet rideshare passengers, and the developers claim all patrons would be able to exit the venue within 30 minutes of a show's end.
The visuals are dramatic — look at that giant shark!
Catch up fast: The county approved financing plans with $215 million in public bonds for the project last month.
- The $1.4 billion project is expected to open in early 2030.