Ambitious plans envision the construction of a giant sphere-shaped entertainment venue in London, mirroring the Sphere in Las Vegas. Proposed by Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) the project seeks to replicate the 90-meter music and entertainment at the British capital but Sadiq Khan, the city’s mayor, doesn’t seem to be on board with the idea.

Khan rejected the idea and cited the light pollution the property would create as the chief reason for his decision. For reference, MSG’s plan was to construct the London Sphere in Stratford, close to the Olympic Park.

The Sphere is a brightly illuminated music venue that can project images on its surface. While this design is exactly what makes it popular, it is also why Khan believes that it isn’t well-suited for the London lifestyle.

The mayor pointed out that constructing such a property would cause an “unacceptable negative impact” on residents of the area.

In addition, the property would have been too “dominant and incongruous” and potentially environmentally unstable because of the huge amounts of energy needed to power it.

MSG Will Look Elsewhere

Madison Square Garden Entertainment, which also owns the property in Las Vegas, first unveiled its London project in 2018. Back then, Khan seemed more favorable of the idea and had lauded it as an opportunity to “welcome another world-class venue to the capital” and enrich London.  

However, a year later Khan’s office became concerned with the proposal, which did not comply with the London Plan. Back then, Khan and his staff were planning to decide on a compromise.

In addition, recent estimates show that as many as 61 homes and 177 student rooms would have been affected by the strong light emitted by the property. In the end, Khan seems to have decided that the downsides of replicating the Sphere in London were not worth it.

This decision has the backing of the Green party, which feels similarly about the Sphere. Labour representatives also praised the rejection, saying that it was good news for all local residents.

MSG responded to Khan’s decision, expressing their disappointment in the mayor’s change of heart. However, they said that they would instead focus their efforts on “forward-thinking cities” that would be on board with the idea of enhancing their communities with such technology.

The post Khan Decides Not to Replicate the Las Vegas Sphere in London appeared first on Keno Wizard.

After much speculation, U2 has finally confirmed that they will perform shows dedicated to their iconic album Achtung Baby at Las Vegas’ new globe-shaped venue, MSG Sphere. 

U2 Announces Highly Anticipated Shows at MSG Sphere with Mysterious UFO-Themed Ad

The Irish rockers had previously hinted at the shows before the Super Bowl, posting an image of a newborn baby within the newly constructed MSG Sphere on a website called U2xsphere.com. The official announcement came with a mysterious UFO-themed ad for the ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere’ shows. 

The announcement of U2’s shows at MSG Sphere has been highly anticipated since rumors first began to circulate last year. While the pandemic delayed the venue’s opening until 2023, the wait will undoubtedly be worth it for U2’s fans. The band’s last US concert was in July 2018, and they have not played together on stage since December 2019 when their Joshua Tree anniversary tour ended in Mumbai, India.

In a statement published on the band’s website, U2 members said that the Sphere show had been in the works for a long time, and they did not want to let people down, least of all their audience. They also admitted that they missed their audience and that their fans were always the fifth member of the band.

The Sphere shows will mark U2’s first-ever concerts without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who will sit out due to a reported neck surgery. Bram van den Berg will fill in for Mullen at the Sphere concerts.

Despite Mullen’s absence from the Sphere shows, the band remains confident that they will deliver a memorable performance. “It’s going to take all we’ve got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right,” said Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton in the statement on their website.

U2 Prepares to Deliver Next-Level Live Experience with MSG Sphere’s Unmatched Technology

U2 has always been known for pushing the boundaries of live performances, incorporating the latest technology and innovation into their shows. The Sphere’s state-of-the-art audio and visual experience, including 580,000 square feet of programmable LED panels, will provide the perfect backdrop for the band to take their live experience of music to the next level. When completed, the 388-foot-tall venue will hold between 17,500 and 20,000 people.

According to The Edge, the Sphere is not just a venue for U2, but rather a canvas of unparalleled scale and image resolution that provides endless possibilities for immersive experiences in real and imaginary landscapes. He explained that it was a unique opportunity that only came once in a generation, and after careful consideration, they would be crazy not to accept the invitation. 

U2’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of live performance is likely to make the Sphere shows an event that music enthusiasts and fans would not want to miss.

The post U2 Teases an Upcoming MSG Sphere Las Vegas Show appeared first on Keno Wizard.