Sphere at Venetian Resort Debuts “Exosphere” in Spectacular Style
Originally published at Vital Vegas
It’s tough to upstage live fireworks, but the Sphere managed to do just that. The Sphere didn’t just do a perfunctory July 4 show, but shared a number of impressive visual displays.
While the venue hasn’t opened yet, the outer screen (called the “exosphere”) put on a jaw-dropping show.
Everybody says their visuals are jaw-dropping and game-changing and life-altering, but the Sphere actually delivered the goods. It was even borderline immersive if you can believe that.
While Las Vegas casinos were shooting off old-school fireworks (yawn), Madison Square Garden was putting its massive new screen through its paces and flexing its pixels.
Yes, parts of the show were perfunctory, but the Sphere was just getting started.
Happy 4th! @SphereVegas @VitalVegas pic.twitter.com/e1xrHO77A1
— Alex Saksri Wong (@AlexSaksri) July 5, 2023
As we’re already into the sixth paragraph of this story, it’s now appropriate for us to remind you we were the first to share that the Sphere would officially debut its exterior screen on July 4, 2023. First paragraph, bragging. Sixth paragraph, modesty. You’ll get the hang of it if you ever do a Las Vegas blog. Good luck with that.
The displays ran the gamut, from dazzling to weird to completely mind-bending. Mouths were made agape, and our friend Kerry (Tweets below) says the videos don’t do the Sphere justice, compared to seeing it in person.
6/10@VitalVegas @LasVegasLocally @SphereVegas pic.twitter.com/Hr7auwENIj
— 🍒Whiskey Fever🍒 (@KerryBilicki) July 5, 2023
Some of the video segments were examples of what’s to come, including seasonal displays, like a giant revolving jack-o’-lantern.
10/10@VitalVegas @LasVegasLocally @SphereVegas pic.twitter.com/n9NSVDhE1L
— 🍒Whiskey Fever🍒 (@KerryBilicki) July 5, 2023
A number of the segments were obviously intended to pique the interest of potential advertisers.
The Sphere has said it wants to generate more than $100 million a year from ads on the exosphere. While the venue isn’t intended to host big sporting events (boxing is a possibility), there was a lot of sports ball imagery.
4/10@VitalVegas @LasVegasLocally @SphereVegas pic.twitter.com/zC28OIl115
— 🍒Whiskey Fever🍒 (@KerryBilicki) July 5, 2023
The Sphere didn’t appear to hold anything back. The graphics surpassed the hype, a rare phenomenon.
@LasVegasLocally @VitalVegas pic.twitter.com/bYrRwBmArk
— Chris Jajko 🇺🇸 (@HeyHeyChrisJay) July 5, 2023
Here’s another look at this eye-catching addition to Las Vegas, sure to be a visitor must-see right out of the gate.
This! @VitalVegas pic.twitter.com/cYcTiDs86c
— Anthony B (@Mac7813O) July 5, 2023
During its impressive debut, the exterior of the Sphere was the focus, and we made a conscious decision to set aside our concerns about the Sphere’s wellbeing. The financial part of its well-being, in case you have been living under a rock.
The Sphere cost $2.2 billion to build. The only problem with that is it doesn’t really seem to have a business model unless you consider a U2 residency (where the band gets 90 percent of ticket sales) and $50 movies a business model.
But July 4 wasn’t a time for nitpicking a project that’s a billion dollars over its estimated budget. In essence, their budget was off any entire Circa Las Vegas hotel-casino.
It’s about Las Vegas delivering epic eye candy and swinging for the fences and going for broke and other, less awkward, cliches.
For one night at least, the Sphere silenced the critics.
We are not one of those critics, by the way! We have said all along the Sphere would be cool. It was even cooler than expected. We’ve also predicted that Sphere will file for bankruptcy. These things aren’t mutually exclusive.
Not negative, I said it’s cool. I’ve also said it’s going to file bankruptcy. Both things can be true. The Titanic was an amazing ship.
— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) July 3, 2023
Seeing the visual splendor that is the Sphere, you may ask how one actually sees the Sphere, where can one park to view the exterior, when will the Sphere light shows happen, you know, the hours of operation. These are all wonderful questions the Sphere hasn’t answered yet. Details, schmetails!
We aren’t here for all that! We’re here to praise Madison Square Garden and the Sphere team for a truly stunning debut. The quality, variety, and sheer quantity was a wonderful gift for locals and tourists alike.
Viability aside, this venue is the kind of attraction that has helped make Las Vegas the ultimate destination.
It’s a round Fremont Street Experience and the bar has been set pretty high for spectacle.
Accounting: Boring. Light shows: Dazzling.
Job well done, The Sphere at Venetian. Until you find a naming rights partner. Maybe a discounted price would help. Just saying. The electric bill is going to cost a fortune.