Maryland Is Getting Its Own (Mini) Sphere

The Prince George’s County Council has authorized up to $215 million for a venue just south of Washington, D.C.The Sphere (Getty Images)East Coast concert lovers with a penchant for geodesic domes, rejoice: the Las Vegas Sphere is getting a sister venue in Maryland. WTOP reports that the Prince George’s County Council (PGCC) has approved up to $215 million in funding to build a Sphere on the Potomac River, just south of Washington, D.C.The shape of the proposed Sphere at National Harbor will be the same, but the size will be smaller: where the Las Vegas Sphere can hold up to 20,000 people, the planned capacity for the Maryland venue is around 6,000. The new Sphere will be part of a larger complex. The PGCC voted unanimously on October 27 to push the project, which was first announced back in January, forward. Dates for both a groundbreaking ceremony and an opening have yet to be confirmed. All told, the venue is projected to cost around $1.4 billion.“This project represents a $1.3 billion dollar economic impact to Prince George’s County and a $1.5 billion dollar impact to the state of Maryland,” County Executive Aisha Braveboy said in a news conference. “This project is projected to generate $63 million annually in just property tax and sales and amusement tax alone.” Earlier this month, the PGCC also approved a labor peace agreement that will allow Sphere workers to organize once it opens; however, this deal did not include the construction workers who will build the venue.Since it opened in 2023, the Las Vegas Sphere has hosted large-scale residencies from U2, No Doubt, Dead & Company, Metallica, and more. Backstreet Boys, the Eagles, Carín Leon, and John Mayer all have upcoming shows slated at the venue.Hattie Lindert is an associate staff writer at Pitchfork. A former editor at Resident Advisor, she has written for Rolling Stone, The FACE and The A.V. Club, among others. She’s based in New York, and born and raised in Vermont. ... Read More