U2's opening show at the Sphere in Las Vegas has become "the fastest grossing residency" ever recorded in the city. That's according to Billboard magazine, which says the initial run of 17 shows generated nearly $110m in ticket sales. Each show generated $6.5m on average, selling about 16,500 tickets. Other…
Venues
U2 admits to ‘not enough distortion’ at Sphere residency
U2 have had to adjust their style of playing to introduce more distortion into the extraordinary sound system at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Sphere Immersive Sound provides individualised sound to each of 17,600 seats at the venue, drawing on a sound system with 1,600 permanently installed and 300 mobile…
London mayor rejects copycat Sphere over light pollution
London mayor Sadiq Khan has refused planning approval for a local version of the Sphere. In a letter to the development corporation which oversees London's Olympic Park area, Khan said the venue "would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents". Khan based his refusal on a 111-page report…
UFC books Sphere for world’s ‘greatest combat sports show’
UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the Sphere has been booked for an event he says will be "the greatest live combat sports show anybody's ever seen". The Noche UFC event will take place on 16 September, which is Mexican Independence Day, next year. The UFC will be following…
Sphere loses nearly $100m as chief financial officer quits
The Sphere has reported an operating loss of $98.4m for the three months ended 30 September. The company has also parted ways with its chief financial officer (CFO) Gautam Ranji. The loss has been widely reported by media outlets, including the Las Vegas Sun. A report in the New York…
Jazz institution debuts Meyer Sound’s new digital platform
The Appel Room of Jazz at New York's Lincoln Center hosted a diverse celebration of music and technology last month to mark the first commercial installation of the NADIA integrated digital audio platform for Constellation acoustic systems. Co-presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center and Meyer Sound, and dubbed 'NADIA’s Music…
U2 to extend residency at the $2.3bn Sphere in Las Vegas
U2 has agreed to add another 12 dates to a 25-show residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. The band will extend a run that was originally due to end on 16 December, according to The New York Post. The newspaper reported that extending the run was a safer and more…
$125 to leave your car at Sphere – that’s a parking lot
People attending the U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere concerts are up in arms about the cost of parking their cars. With the Las Vegas venue's parking lot accommodating only 300 vehicles, concert-goers are being asked to pay $92.50 (plus fees) for self-parking and $117.50 for valet parking (plus…
Powersoft amplifiers improve Sphere’s energy efficiency
Powersoft has contributed ultra-high-efficiency amplifier solutions that achieve approximately 40% energy savings compared to traditional amplifiers at Sphere, in Las Vegas. Developed specifically for Sphere’s curved interior, Sphere Immersive Sound is powered by 167,000 channels of amplification provided by Powersoft’s compact 16-channel amplifier solutions, which are integrated into the Holoplot…
The Sphere Experience launched with Postcards from Earth
The Sphere Experience live-entertainment programme was launched at the Las Vegas venue last week, following its opening with a concert by U2. The two-hour Sphere Experience show begins in the giant dome's Atrium, where visitors learn how culture, technology, science, art and the natural world have been intertwined throughout human…