Eventually, everyone plays Vegas. It’s been a long tradition going back to the Rat Pack days of Sinatra, Martin and Sammy Davis Jr that musical stars will always find their way to Las Vegas. In the old days, superstar singers set up residency in many of the famed Las Vegas Hotels, like the Flamingo, The Sands, Ceasers, and many more. The 1970s brought in artists like Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton and Paul Anka. Now, in modern times, Las Vegas has blossomed with scores of new hotels hosting giant concert halls where modern acts like Britney Spears, Cher, and more would spend months performing. Recently, the opening of the Sphere in 2023 took musical residency to a new level.
The first act to begin a musical residency to the Sphere was U2, who performed 40 shows from September 29, 2023, to March 2, 2024. Phish is set to perform four concerts in April. The jam band that has followed in the footsteps of the Grateful Dead is warming up the stage for what remains of the Dead, as Dead & Company has signed a deal to play 24 nights at the Sphere from May 16 to July 13, 2024.
The Sphere now seemingly will welcome the Eagles. Although no official announcement has been made, The New York Post has reported that close sources have confirmed that the Eagles will be extending their farewell tour to play Las Vegas for an extended period of time at The Sphere. The run is supposed to start in September and take the band through December 2024 with shows being played on the weekends. Who would have thought that the band that composed the song “The Last Resort” would sign a deal to play Sin City?
The Sphere was introduced by the Madison Square Garden Company in 2018 under the initial moniker MSG Sphere, and presents a futuristic approach to live events.
This dome-like coliseum, with its staggering capacity to host 18,600 guests, is a testament to modern technological advancements. It is celebrated for its unparalleled immersive experiences, highlighted by an interior LED screen boasting an impressive 16K resolution that wraps around the audience, coupled with state-of-the-art sound technologies including beamforming and wave field synthesis, all complemented by tactile 4D effects that promise an engagement of all senses.
Standing tall at 366 feet and stretching 516 feet in width, the Sphere’s exterior is equally mesmerizing, draped in a vast 580,000 square feet of LED screens. This architectural and technological wonder, which cost a staggering $2.3 billion to construct, redefines luxury and entertainment in the heart of Las Vegas, marking a new era for performance venues and bands from the 1970s.