That giant glowing orb from Vegas is finally spawning a smaller offspring nearby. Sphere Entertainment teamed up with the State of Maryland and Peterson Companies to drop a mini version at National Harbor near Washington, D.C. While the original Las Vegas dome holds way more people, this downsized model packs 6,000 seats but keeps the exterior LED Exosphere wrapper intact.
Planners intend to install a 16K interior screen just like the big one, claiming it offers the sharpest resolution on earth. Getting this constructed requires mixing public cash with private money, totaling around $200 million in incentives. They reckon it creates thousands of gigs during building and operations, pumping over $1 billion yearly into the local economy.
James Dolan, the CEO, hyped up their vision for a global chain of these venues. He feels local leaders like Governor Moore see value in bringing immersive tech to the region. Meanwhile, real estate boss Jon Peterson argued this project cements National Harbor as a top-tier entertainment hub for tourists.
This Maryland location marks the first small-format design stateside, assuming they get permission. A full-sized copy is happening in Abu Dhabi, yet London killed similar plans previously because Mayor Sadiq Khan worried about light pollution annoying the neighbors.
Planners intend to install a 16K interior screen just like the big one, claiming it offers the sharpest resolution on earth. Getting this constructed requires mixing public cash with private money, totaling around $200 million in incentives. They reckon it creates thousands of gigs during building and operations, pumping over $1 billion yearly into the local economy.
James Dolan, the CEO, hyped up their vision for a global chain of these venues. He feels local leaders like Governor Moore see value in bringing immersive tech to the region. Meanwhile, real estate boss Jon Peterson argued this project cements National Harbor as a top-tier entertainment hub for tourists.
This Maryland location marks the first small-format design stateside, assuming they get permission. A full-sized copy is happening in Abu Dhabi, yet London killed similar plans previously because Mayor Sadiq Khan worried about light pollution annoying the neighbors.
