SPHERE: Las Vegas Launches the Newest Wonder of the World

This past September, as our incredible Resorts World LV experience ended, the drive to the airport was interrupted by an astonishing site. A large black sphere dome appeared in front of us. Our driver quickly explained that this was ‘The Sphere’ where mega-band U2 had been practicing for a week in preparation for the official launch.

What is the Sphere? Well, the short version is that it is a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment! A mindblowing venue where leading Hollywood directors, concerts and residencies from the world’s most prominent artists, like U2 and premier marquee events, will astound attendees.

A NEW WONDER OF THE WORLD?

The Sphere Experience is a new genre of live entertainment that will transform the shared experience and put Sphere’s 22nd-century immersive technologies on full display. The approximately two-hour program begins in the Atrium, which tells a universal story of how culture, technology, science, art, and the natural world have been intertwined throughout human history.

“Every aspect of Sphere was designed to transport audiences to new places, both real and imagined and The Sphere Experience is where that vision comes together in its most integrated form,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment. “From the moment guests enter the venue, Sphere’s next-generation technologies will create an unforgettable journey, which includes a sci-fi exploration of our planet via Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Postcard from Earth.'”

‘POSTCARD FROM EARTH’

The Atrium experience ties directly into the main cinematic feature, ‘Postcard from Earth,’ a first-of-its-kind immersive film by Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky.

The film offers a portrait of our planet re-imagined as a sci-fi experience. It brings audiences on a voyage spanning all seven continents, deep into the ocean, high into the mountains, into the eye of a storm, and out into space. ‘Postcard from Earth’ takes full advantage of Sphere’s experiential, next-generation technologies to transport audiences and engage the senses, making them feel like they have travelled to new worlds without ever leaving their seats in Las Vegas.

This includes utilizing the interior LED display plane that wraps up, over, and around the audience to create a fully immersive visual environment. At 16K x 16K, it is the highest resolution LED screen on Earth. Through  Sphere Immersive Sound, a variety of technologies, including beamforming, enable audio to be directed to  specific locations at a volume that remains consistent – from point of  origin to destination.

Sphere’s audio system also allows sound designers to create a virtual point of origin and place it in a precise spatial location – meaning audio can be directed to the listener so that it sounds close, even though the source is far away. ‘Postcard from Earth’ is also the first production to feature the venue’s multi-sensory 4D technologies. This includes immersive seats with an infrasound haptic system that will use deep vibrations so guests can feel the experience – such as the rumble of thunder or a soaring rocket launch.

Sphere also utilizes environmental  effects to rouse the senses–the feeling  of a cool breeze and familiar scents–which help audiences conjure  the feeling of being there.

THE ATRIUM

The Sphere Experience journey is curated by five humanoid robots–named Aura–that serve as interactive guides to Sphere, each focusing on one fundamental aspect of human ability: connection, creativity, innovation, longevity, and productivity. Aura was developed using next-generation technology in robotic mechanics and artificial intelligence.

Aura will guide guests through an interactive demonstration of Sphere Immersive Sound powered by HOLOPLOT, which shows beamforming technology can simultaneously send unique audio content to specific locations, allowing guests to hear completely different content – such as languages or instruments.

Sphere Immersive Sound is the most advanced concert-grade audio system in the world – using 3D audio beamforming technology and wave field synthesis to deliver targeted, crystal-clear and uniform audio to every seat in Sphere. Other immersive technology experiences in the Atrium include a 50-foot-high holographic installation that draws on the themes of ‘Postcard from Earth,’ artwork created by machine learning, LED displays, and a 360-degree avatar capture that virtually puts guests on top of Sphere.

Aronofsky said: “Sphere is a temple to the arts. It’s not built for sports; it’s built for performance and for this new moving  image medium: this experiential cinema.  I can’t wait to share Postcard from Earth with the world.”

Tickets for the ‘Postcard from Earth’ are available through the venue website.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, and digital women's lifestyle magazine EcoLuxLifestyle.co. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.