The Las Vegas Sphere is the hottest damn thing scorching the Strip right now, a jaw-dropping, 366-foot neon orb that’s straight out of the future. It went from being the punchline of financial disaster jokes to a money-making monster, and I’ll be real: I’ve had a total love-hate rollercoaster with this thing. I remember catching glimpses of it rising, big and mysterious, all through the pandemic, this bizarre, enormous black ball looming over a half-empty Vegas. What the hell was it? Why Vegas? Who’d be bold enough to fill seats for something like this? The questions were endless, the hype louder than a slot machine jackpot. So here’s a walk-through of the wild saga of the Sphere so far, and a peek at where it’s headed next.
Buckle up, because this is Vegas turned up to eleven.
Last night’s Wizard of Oz premiere (Aug 28, 2025) sent crowds down a 4D yellow brick road, while today’s Unity EDM festival (Aug 29-31) with Chase & Status, Kaskade, and Eli Brown is set to melt faces with Insomniac and Tomorrowland’s sensory overload.
UFC 306’s $22M record-breaking Noche UFC (Sept 2024) packed the house.
Rumors? Taylor Swift’s a no-go (CEO Jim Dolan says “definitely not”), Metallica’s teasing a metal takeover, and an Eagles concert film is locked and loaded.
From early troubles to sold-out residencies, the Sphere’s rewriting Vegas entertainment, making traditional residencies like Cirque shows look like they are even older and outdated.
I’ve dug into the Sphere’s story, losses to wins, Oz’s AI magic, Unity’s rave, UFC’s knockout, and Metallica whispers ( I am so ready for this one to happen) to show why it’s a must-hit. Here’s the raw scoop, with hacks to own it.
The Sphere’s Wild History: From Bust to Boom
The Sphere opened in September 2023 as a $2.3 billion gamble, 17,500 seats, a 160,000 sq ft wraparound LED screen, and haptics that shake your soul. Early days were a disaster: construction delays, $1.5 billion debt by 2025, and operating losses like $71.4 million in Q1 2025. Revenue dipped to $280.6 million that quarter, with too few shows and no Super Bowl ad cash. X posts ripped it as “Dolan’s money pit,” and Sphere Entertainment bled $125 million quarterly. Tech glitches botched early visuals, and booking big names was a slog. I walked by in 2023, saw empty lots, and felt the “overhyped” vibe.
Then it turned around. Q2 2025 revenue hit $282.7 million, up 3% from Q2 2024, with the Sphere segment spiking 16% to $175.6 million, fueled by $24.4 million in event revenue. Operating loss shrank 30% to $50.2 million from $71.4 million in Q1 2025. The Sphere’s on a path to profitability, silencing critics with its immersive tech, 360° screens, rumbling seats, and killer acts. The vibe’s shifted: X buzz is electric, with fans hyped for Oz’s AI visuals and sold-out residencies. Reviews were always solid, but now the excitement’s next-level, packing 100+ events in 2025.
This is something Vegas needs, and The Sphere may turn out to be the massive attraction it’s always wanted to be.
Acts That Rocked (and Ones That Tanked)
The Sphere thrives when acts lean into its tech, the 360° screens and haptic seats. The Sphere Experience revenue fell $6.7 million in Q2 2025 due to lower per-show attendance, but residencies saved the day. Here’s what worked and what didn’t:
The Winners:
U2 (Sept 2023-Mar 2024): U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere ran 40 sold-out shows. Visuals synced to “With or Without You” had 17,500 fans screaming. The floor was rumbling like a spaceship. Dedicated U2 fans flocked to see them.
Phish (Apr 2024): Psychedelic jams with unique visuals each night. X fans called it “a cosmic trip.” Trippy, bespoke screens had die-hards raving on socials.
Dead & Company (May 2024): Grateful Dead vibes, cosmic visuals, sold-out aisles of dancing hippies. Nostalgia plus tech wizardry.
Eagles (Sept 2024-ongoing 2025): Classic rock residency, Hotel California wrapping the orb. Dolan confirmed an Eagles concert film is shot and ready to drop. The crowd sang every word, and screens made it epic. Timeless hits, epic storytelling.
Kenny Chesney (April-May 2025, Extended): Beachy anthems like No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems with ocean-wave visuals and haptic “wave” effects. Crowds of 17,500 went wild and made the floor sway like a beach bonfire. It was High-energy country, with a multigenerational appeal, and was extended due to demand.
Backstreet Boys (July 2025): Pop nostalgia with synced visuals for “Everybody” had “crazy” fans losing it, per X. High-energy, tech was embraced by fans reliving their favorite band from 20+ years ago, and the demand for this surprised me, but thats one of the many things I love about Vegas and The Sphere, providing things for everybody.
Anyma (Dec 2024-Mar 2025): EDM raves with pulsing visuals. Packed, but X griped about repetitive sets. It was a Club vibe, less unique than rock, but epic graphics to be displayed.
UFC 306: Noche UFC (Sept 14, 2024): Record-breaking $22M gate, 16,024 fans for Mexican Independence Day. For Mexico, For All Time film on 16K LED screens honored Mexican culture. AI-tracked stats, live heart rate tracking, haptic seats synced to Octagon hits, 48 cameras, Spanish audio via LiveVoice. It was the Sphere’s first live sports event, an innovative production that I am still pissed off about being out of town and missing.
The Flops or Mixed
Postcard from Earth" is an ongoing immersive cinematic experience at the Las Vegas Sphere, directed by Darren Aronofsky. It's a 50-55 minute multi-sensory film (with haptic seats, scents, wind, and 18K resolution visuals) that's part of "The Sphere Experience.” It’s also a reason for early negativity. People were not jazzed about the $89(before fees) price tag, $79 (before fees) for matinee shows, and up to $250 for the “good seats”, just to watch a movie.
Residency band performances sell for anywhere from (before fees) $200 - $800, and keep in mind these are face value rates; many of what you see minutes after they go on sale are all resale pricing and go into the thousands of dollars.
Wizard of Oz Premiere & Unity’s EDM Blast
Wizard of Oz premiered last night (Aug 28, 2025), a $100 million AI-driven spectacle with haptic tornado rumbles and wraparound visuals. (see my X account for a video) Dolan admitted it went 2x over budget, delayed from April due to AI/resolution issues, but “it’s worth it.” I heard crowds were gasping as Oz unfolded, Vegas meets Dorothy, cheaper than big shows.
Unity starts today (Aug 29-31), a first-of-its-kind Insomniac x Tomorrowland EDM fest. Chase & Status (Aug 29) bring drum and bass fire, Kaskade (Aug 30) spins iconic beats, and Eli Brown (Aug 31) drops techno heat, all-ages, hours-long sensory overload with orchestral anthems and Planaxis/Adscendo/Orbyz themes. Kaskade told the RJ it’s a “natural fit” for his visual-driven sets.
More Unity runs Sept 19-20, Sept 26-27, Oct 17-18 with DJ Snake, Alan Walker, Slander, and more. The First EDM fest at Sphere, blending EDC’s chaos with Tomorrowland’s global draw.
Rumors & What’s Next
Taylor Swift? Dead, Dolan told the RJ, “Definitely not happening, no discussions.”
Metallica? Hot, Dolan didn’t deny it, and Lars Ulrich teased a residency on Howard Stern, saying no metal band’s done it. X fans are hyping “Enter Sandman” on that screen. I’m going to say this one is happening, and I will be there for sure!
Eagles concert film? Confirmed shot, per Dolan, set to roll soon.
Lady Gaga? A “maybe,” per his chuckle. Gaga already has a history in Vegas with her residency at Dolby Live, which was a huge hit. I’m shocked this isn’t signed already. I’m also willing to bet Mrs. Vegas Uncomped is going to drag me to it.
What’s next? Zac Brown Band (December 2025), Southern rock residency with rustic visuals for “Chicken Fried,” running Dec 5,6,12,13. I expect it to pack houses with jam-band energy, building on the Sphere’s country success like Kenny Chesney. Look for a possible extension to this one.
Pro Tips to Own the Sphere
Check spherevegas.com or @SphereVegas on X for ticket drops.
Hit evenings for glowing exterior selfies; park at Venetian.
Ask for a room with a view of the Sphere. Many hotels will upgrade you, and the exo show is impressive as well.
Book early, in fact, buy them as soon as they are released.
Watch for hotel bundles, better value than solo tickets.
With the Sphere starting to offer more and more options, there is bound to be something that interests you and that will justify the cost of the ticket, but my advice is to wait, yes, wait until that band or show is something that really interests you. The experience is so worth it.
With movies like Oz now starting, what could be next? Fans have talked about Star Wars since day one. Can you imagine, or perhaps Back to the Future?
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