What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and apparently, that holds true for the Sphere after London Mayor Sadiq Khan turned down a proposal to bring a copy of the immersive venue to England’s capital.
The mayor rejected a proposal from Sphere Entertainment over concerns about the project’s light pollution, the high electricity costs and environmental impact, and the effect it would have on historical “heritage” sites in the area.
“London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city,” a spokesperson for the mayor told The Standard. “But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the Mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.”
The proposed London version of the Sphere would essentially be a copy of the structure in Vegas, which opened back in September with a residency by U2 set to run through February. Standing at over 300 feet high and 360 feet wide, the exterior is covered by the world’s largest LED screen. Inside, the $2 billion venue operated by an offshoot of the same company that runs Madison Square Garden can host 18,000 attendees. The proposal also included a smaller nightclub with a capacity of 1,500.
Related: U2 Welcomes Lady Gaga For “Shallow” Interlude & More At Las Vegas Sphere [Watch]
Khan technically does not have the final say on the matter. The decision going to Communities Secretary Michael Gove for a ruling. Sphere Entertainment, however, said it will move on to looking at other cities, with Rolling Stone reporting that the company is looking at building a Sphere in Hanam, South Korea.
“While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities,” a Sphere Entertainment spokesperson said. “We will concentrate on those.”
This news comes after a planning application for a Sphere near London’s Olympic Park was approved by the city’s Legacy Development Corporation in March of last year—with plans for a London Sphere dating back to 2018. However, a report from London City Hall notes that the Sphere was considered a “detriment to human health” and causing “significant harm” to “hundreds” of Stratford residents in their own homes. Unlike the Sphere on Las Vegas’ commercial Strip, the proposed London site to the east of Olympic Park would impact residential areas.
Khan’s decision comes shortly after Sphere Entertainment reported $98.4 million in losses in the latest fiscal quarter. A week prior to that announcement, the company’s CFO Gautam Ranj resigned after holding the position for 11 months, per the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said Ranj’s departure was “not a result of any disagreement with the Company’s independent auditors or any member of management on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or internal controls.”
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