As the ‘Sphere’ in Las Vegas continues to captivate the entire world, James Dolan and Madison Square Garden Entertainment are looking to expand. According to the New York Post, billionaire owner of the Knicks and Rangers is in deep talks with the United Arab Emirates to build a new ‘Sphere’ in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, about 4,300 miles to the east, MSG is seeking to create a third ‘Sphere’ specifically for K-pop in Hanam. The entertainment holding company signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean city, located just east of Seoul.
According to The Korea Economic Daily, Hanam is planning to open ‘K-Star World.’ It would include a film studio, theme park, and a K-culture and video industrial complex dedicated to Korean pop. The Sphere would be part of those plans, and it would be the biggest yet at 393 feet tall and 524 meters wide.
When will The Sphere go international?!
If all goes according to plan, construction on the K-pop Sphere would begin in 2025. Local government has vowed to fast-track the process, which would cut 42-month build time in half.
The government will fast-track licensing and other administrative procedures to reduce the period to 21 months to help [the company] carry out the project as planned.
— South Korean government official
Should “deep talks” between Dolan and the UAE continue at such a rapid pace, construction would get underway ASAP— potentially before the similar venue in South Korea. Discussions “keep going back and forth.:
This comes after MSG was shut down by the mayor of London earlier this year because the Sphere would be too flashy for such a subdued and historic city. He called it “bulky, unduly dominant an incongruous.”
By contrast, the United Arab Emirates is known for its audacious architecture, so the giant glowing ball would be a great fit for the region. The new Sphere would fit great next to the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab hotel and Etihad Arena, among other ostentatious buildings.
The Sphere in Las Vegas opened its door for the first time on Sept. 29 and made a massive fortune from the first two shows: U2’s residency and Darren Aronovsky’s Postcard From Earth. Dolan and MSG hope that revenue could be replicated in multiple new cities overseas. Hanam and Abu Dhabi are up next!