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Populous to Design Spherical Music Venues in London and Las Vegas

The team responsible for New York’s Madison Square Garden will work with the world's biggest stadium-architecture firm in creating a bold new space to enjoy live music
Image may contain Sphere Building and Architecture
The exterior of the Las Vegas venue, which would be located right next to the famous Las Vegas Strip.All rendering courtesy of MSG

The latest partnership between the Madison Square Garden Company and stadium architects Populous is like something out of a futuristic movie. Recently, the two companies announced their plans to construct arenas in London and Las Vegas that, simply put, are like nothing we've ever seen before. The first, dubbed MSG Sphere Las Vegas will accommodate more than 18,000 seats, including up to 5,000 standing general admission. Other than the fact that London's venue will be built on five acres of land near Olympic Park in Stratford, information on the second venue has yet to be released.

While both projects are in their early stages, they aim to truly reshape the concert experience for fans on both sides of the Atlantic. An MSG press release promises that, in addition to their bold design, the MSG Spheres “will be equipped with game-changing technologies that push the limits of connectivity, acoustics, video, and content distribution.”

A look inside the venue, where lights and other visuals could be projected in ways traditional concert halls would not be able to.

The company most famous for its iconic New York City arena hopes that MSG Sphere London, MSG's first international venue, will be a splashy way to make an entrance into a sizable market. “We believe that a large-scale, next-generation venue will not only become a premier destination, but also drive growth in London’s overall music and entertainment market,” said MSG president James Dolan in a statement. Dolan sees MSG Sphere “benefiting artists and fans, and serving as a long-term investment in the future of this incredible city.” Once built, MSG Sphere London will immediately rival O2 Arena (also built by Populous) as London’s premier indoor concert venue. MSG Sphere Las Vegas should also feel right at home alongside the city’s other examples of gaudy architecture.

The firm is looking to break ground on MSG Las Vegas in the second half of 2018, and for the venue to open as early as late 2020.