Sphere Entertainment Eyes at Least 10 Venues Within Five to Six Years
2026-08-11 · via AV Magazine
Sphere Entertainment Co wants at least 10 Spheres either operating or under construction within five to six years, according to comments from CEO and executive chairman James Dolan on an earnings call last month. For an industry that tracks large-format LED deployments closely, that is a notable expansion target for a venue type built around one of the biggest LED displays in the world.
"As many as I can build, I'm going to build," Dolan told analysts. "The capital is there. The goal is going to be the goal. It's going to be to go fast." He said his aim is to have "five venues up or more" and another five under construction within five to six years.
The original Sphere in Las Vegas opened in September 2023 and is built around the Exosphere, a fully wrapped exterior LED display, along with Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating and 4D environmental effects. A second Sphere is planned for Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, with completion targeted for the end of 2029.
Beyond the flagship venues, Sphere Entertainment is also developing a network of smaller venues. The first of these is planned for the National Harbor waterfront resort near Washington, DC. Sphere National Harbor is set to seat around 6,000 people, roughly a third of the capacity of the Las Vegas venue, but the company says it will still include the Exosphere exterior LED display, Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating and 4D effects.
For operators and integrators working in large-format LED and immersive display technology, the scale of this ambition matters. A single Sphere required an enormous exterior LED build alongside interior display and sound systems that pushed the boundaries of venue-scale digital display technology. Multiplying that by ten, even with smaller-format venues in the mix, implies a substantial pipeline of large LED display work over the next several years, assuming the funding and construction timelines hold.
The announcement does not say which cities beyond Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi and National Harbor are under consideration for future venues, nor does it give a breakdown of how many of the ten would be full-scale Spheres versus the smaller venue format. It also does not detail the capital figures behind Dolan's claim that "the capital is there," or name any construction or technology partners for the smaller venues beyond confirming they will use the same Exosphere and Immersive Sound branding as Las Vegas.
What is clear is that Sphere Entertainment is positioning its exterior LED display and immersive format as a repeatable product rather than a one-off spectacle, which is worth watching for anyone in the LED display and large-venue AV supply chain.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from AV Magazine for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
By AV Magazine in Business , Venues August 10, 2026 0
CEO and executive chairman James Dolan told investment analysts that the capital is there to have five or more Spheres in operation and five more under construction within five to six years.
Sphere Entertainment Co wants at least 10 Spheres to be either in operation or under construction within five to six years.
The company’s chief executive and executive chairman, James Dolan, said in an earnings conference call at the end of last month : “As many as I can build, I’m going to build.
“The capital is there. The goal is going to be the goal. It’s going to be to go fast.
“I really want five, six years from now, to have five venues up or more and have another five that are under construction.”
The Las Vegas Sphere opened in September 2023, with a second location set to be completed by the end of 2029 on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island .
The first of Sphere Entertainment Co’s planned network of smaller venues around the world , meanwhile, is planned for the National Harbor waterfront resort near Washington, DC.
Sphere National Harbor will feature 6,000 seats – about a third of the Sphere Las Vegas – but will still be equipped with the trademark Exosphere exterior LED display, Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.