Sphere Entertainment and Google have announced a new AI partnership, billed as marking a “pivotal moment” in entertainment technology.

The companies are using generative AI to help bring an immersive version of The Wizard of Oz, originally released in 1939, to Sphere in Las Vegas from 28 August.

The presentation on the venue’s 160,000sq ft interior display plane will deploy Google AI alongside traditional VFX and film techniques to expand scenes and enhance characters to create a “never-before-seen” experience.

“The power of generative AI, combined with Google’s infrastructure and expertise, is helping us to achieve something extraordinary,” says Jim Dolan, Sphere Entertainment executive chairman and CEO. “We needed a partner who could push boundaries alongside our teams at Sphere Studios and Magnopus, and Google was the only company equipped to meet the challenge on the world’s highest resolution LED screen.”

Sphere is also using Google Cloud’s AI-optimised infrastructure to support the data and computational demands in building its immersive experiences, with The Wizard of Oz at Sphere processing 1.2 petabytes of data over the course of the project to date.

“Our partnership with Sphere on The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is a great example of pushing the boundaries of generative AI”

The project involves “first-of-its-kind” engineering work and thousands of creators, coders and VFX artists. Google Cloud and Google DeepMind are working together to enhance the film’s resolution, extend backgrounds, and digitally recreate existing characters who would otherwise not appear on the same screen.

The firms say the production will represent a leap forward for the future of visual storytelling “akin to The Wizard of Oz’s use of Technicolor nearly 90 years ago”.

“Our partnership with Sphere on The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is a great example of pushing the boundaries of generative AI to deliver exciting new experiences for audiences – and new opportunities for studios and filmmakers,” adds Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. “We are honoured to play a role in such an ambitious project to bring a classic piece of Americana to an entirely new generation of audiences.”

Since last autumn, Sphere Las Vegas has presented an exclusive “cinematic experience” based around U2’s groundbreaking show at the 20,000-cap next-gen venue, while Postcard from Earth, a nature film from director Darren Aronofsky, has been a Sphere staple since launching in October 2023.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have added a batch of shows to their Sphere residency this autumn. The run will now feature a total of 44 shows from 20 September through to 8 November. Tickets start at $175. Other ongoing and upcoming artist residencies at the venue include Dead & Company, Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys.

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The inaugural Afterlife Festival Mexico City has been cancelled due to “unforeseen technical and licensing issues with the venue”.

The two-day event was the brainchild of DJ duo Tale of US – known individually as Anyma and Mrak – who run the Afterlife record label.

The festival, promoted by the duo’s Afterlife Tulum collaborator Zamna, would have taken place on 9 and 10 May at outdoor sports facility Hipódromo de las Americas.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Afterlife Festival Mexico City, scheduled for May 9 and 10 at Hipódromo de las Americas will not take place due to unforeseen technical and licensing issues with the venue,” Zamna said in a statement. “We explored every possible solution, but the situation prevents us from delivering the experience you deserve.”

“We explored every possible solution, but the situation prevents us from delivering the experience you deserve”

The promoter confirmed that tickets would be refunded automatically.

Afterlife Festival Mexico City was announced at the same time as Afterlife Festival Barcelona, which is expected to run as planned on 13 and 14 June. Anyma, Mind Against, Kevin De Vries, Mrak, Camelphat, Gordon and more have been confirmed to perform.

Afterlife Festival has taken place since 2018 in cities including New York, London, Tulum, Bucharest, Barcelona, Milan, Dubai, Saõ Paulo, Zurich and more.

Anyma, real name Matteo Milleri, recently became the first electronic music act to headline the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap Sphere in Las Vegas.

Afterlife presents Anyma ‘The End of Gensys’ Live took place across 12 nights, beginning on 27 December last year and wrapping up earlier this month.

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Electronic dance music visionaries Insomniac and Tomorrowland are joining forces for the first time ever to launch UNITY at Sphere in Las Vegas.

In the first chapter in a series of collaborations between the two festival creators, the “groundbreaking audiovisual spectacle” will arrive at the $2.3 billion next generation venue for three nights on 29-31 August.

Belgium’s Tomorrowland will merge its Planaxis, Adscendo and Orbyz relams with US-based Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween and Electric Daisy Carnival into an “all-encompassing sensory voyage”, with the promoters “fusing their most iconic dreamscapes into a breathtaking, guided adventure”.

“Through the past decades, we both have strived to create festivals and experiences around the world that foster beautiful, unique communities of individuals,” says a joint statement from the companies. “Music is our universal language, the dance floor our sanctuary, and every one of you, our family. We can’t thank you enough for being such an integral part of the journey with us.

“We join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events”

“Now, for the first time in history, our worlds become one. In UNITY, we join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events—and there’s no better stage on earth than Sphere.”

The soundtrack will blend dance music anthems with new orchestral compositions and accompaniments, with each show to climax with surprise special guest DJ performances.

UNITY will become the Sphere’s second electronic music headline event following Afterlife presents Anyma ‘The End of Gensys’ Live. The solo project of American DJ and producer Matteo Milleri, Anyma staged a 12-night residency, beginning on 27 December last year and wrapping up earlier this month.

Separately, Dead & Company kicked off their second stint at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue on 20 March, with upcoming 2025 residencies also announced by Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys.

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American singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney will become the first country music artist to headline the Sphere in Las Vegas after announcing a 12-show residency for later this year.

The 56-year-old will grace the next-generation venue on 22, 24, 25, 28, 30 & 31 May, plus 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 & 14 June, complete with video content shot on a special camera developed specifically for Sphere’s configuration.

“When we started talking about all of the possibilities playing Sphere offered, I was all in,” says the Tennessee-born star. “Just the idea of 4D technology and the impossibly dialled in sound raises the experience for No Shoes Nation, literally immersing them in music, visuals, sound and being together. To me, this is going to be a whole new way of rocking the fans, and I can’t wait.”

Chesney, who is a stadium-level artist in the US, will join a select group of artists – U2, Dead & Company, Eagles, Phish and Afterlife Presents Anyma – in headlining the 17,600-seat Sphere, which launched in September 2023.

“Knowing how much intensity our shows generate, my mind started thinking about all the things we could do”

“When we started talking, I flew to Vegas with my key tour team,” adds Chesney. “We stood on the floor as they ran the film of U2’s show and we were completely consumed. We could see the band, but it was so much more than that. It almost took what they were doing and multiplied it by another dimension.

“Knowing how much intensity our shows generate, my mind started thinking about all the things we could do. Once you see how the show wraps all the way around you, the dreaming begins.”

Meanwhile, music agent Lance Roberts has joined WME as a partner in the company’s country music division, bringing a roster including Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Easton Corbin and Sammy Kershaw. The 30-year veteran has made the switch following a decade-long stint at UTA, and will be based in WME’s Nashville office.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to join the amazing team at WME,” says Roberts. “They have been extremely supportive of this next chapter in my career, and I am looking forward to working with the most talented agents in our industry.”

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With the end of 2024 in sight, IQ presents a look back the biggest live music industry stories from the past year. Revisit the most notable moments from the last 12 months below – and there is only one place to start…

A $2bn juggernaut: Taylor Swift wraps up Eras Tour

After 149 shows, five continents and an unprecedented box office gross, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour came to an end in Vancouver, Canada, in December.

The epoch-defining 21-month trek garnered an all-time record US$2,077,618,725 (€1.96 billion) at the box office after selling more than 10.1 million tickets, with the economic benefits of staging an Eras residency for host cities even earning its own term – “Swiftonomics”.

The run’s 80 shows this year raked in $1,043,421,552 (€993.4m) from 5.2m ticket sales at an average ticket price of $200.27 (€190.68). IQ explored how Swift captured the zeitgeist like no other artist in decades upon the conclusion of the tour’s European leg at London’s Wembley Stadium in August.

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour was a distant second in the tour rankings – grossing $421.7m, having moved 3.3m tickets for 54 concerts (average ticket price: $128.05). The ongoing run has also made history after claiming the overall record for tickets sold on a single tour, shifting 10.3m tickets since commencing in March 2022, and is already the second highest-grossing ever.

The top 10 list was completed by P!nk (367.3m), Luis Miguel ($261.5m), Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band ($251.3m), the Rolling Stones ($235m), Bad Bunny ($210.9m), Zach Bryan ($199.2m), Metallica ($179.4m), and Madonna ($178.8m).

Global investment firm buys Superstruct for €1.3bn

American global investment firm KKR acquired festival giant Superstruct Entertainment from Providence in a €1.3 billion deal.

Fellow private equity firm CVC also went on to secure a stake in the firm, which owns and operates over 80 music festivals across 10 countries in Europe and Australia, including Wacken Open Air, Parookaville, Tinderbox, Sónar, Øya, Benicàssim, Kendal Calling and Boardmasters.

Superstruct was launched in 2017 by Creamfields founder and former Live Nation president of electronic music James Barton and Roderik Schlosser while at Providence.

IQ charted the increasingly close links between the international touring industry and PE here.

Meanwhile, Superstruct’s Barton will give his first interview in the company’s history at next year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC).

Oasis confirm 2025 reunion tour

Legendary British rock band Oasis confirmed they are reuniting for a 2025 world tour.

The Gallagher brothers last performed together in August 2009, when they split following a backstage bust-up at France’s Rock en Seine.

The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour was the biggest concert launch ever seen in UK and Ireland, with more than 10 million fans from 158 countries attempting to buy tickets for the group’s first shows since 2009.

However, the unprecedented demand soon gave way to a dynamic ticketing controversy that has prompted multiple inquiries. There was widespread media coverage of fan anger after customers were offered “in demand” tickets for more than twice the advertised face value under surge pricing after queuing online for several hours.

Dynamic pricing was subsequently not employed for the group’s other tour dates in North America, South America, Asia and Australia, which have all sold out.

Adele’s Munich run ‘a milestone in music history’

The team behind Adele’s historic German run hailed acclaimed show as “a milestone in music history”.

More than 730,000 tickets were sold for the singer’s 10-night stint at a giant pop-up stadium in Munich, held between 2-31 August. The “bespoke” outdoor venue boasted a 220m x 30m LED screen, supplied by Solotech, which has been certified by Guinness World Records as the Largest Continuous Outdoor LED Screen (temporary) ever built.

Alongside the venue, the 75,000-square-metre Adele World – which included an authentic English pub, a fairground wheel, karaoke, Farmers Markets, merchandise and a typical Bavarian beer garden with live entertainment – attracted 500,000 visitors.

“We could not simply use a blueprint of another project – we had to start from scratch,” said Live Nation GSA CEO Marek Lieberberg, who co-promoted the residency with Klaus Leutgeb, CEO of Austria’s Leutgeb Entertainment Group.

“Before this started, I said: ‘Never before and never again.’ Now, I would say, ‘Never before but maybe again.

“It’s a milestone in music history, for sure. And it seems too good to waste. But if we ever did something like this again, it has to cater to the specific vision of the artist, like this one has.”

Co-op Live Manchester bounces back

A whirlwind first six months for Manchester’s Co-op Live (cap. 23,500) saw the UK’s largest live entertainment rebound from its delayed opening.

The £365 million facility hosted prestigious events including the UFC and the MTV EMAs, as well as indoor shows by Paul McCartney, the Eagles and Pearl Jam.

NEC Group veteran Guy Dunstan joined in October as its new general manager and SVP, with Rebecca Kane Burton, formerly of The O2, LW Theatres and Sodexo Live, becoming EVP of venue management for OVG International.

Originally slated to join the OVG fold over the summer, Kane Burton was parachuted in as interim boss of Manchester’s Co-op Live in April, as the venue’s launch was pushed back two weeks following a series of hitches. It ultimately launched on 14 May with a triumphant hometown concert by Elbow.

“I think any of us now, if we hear any Elbow music, will cry tears of joy, because that’s the moment we finally got the doors open and ready and away,” Kane Burton told IQ. “And then June just was amazing, because it was just literally back-to-back gigs and you start becoming a very well-oiled machine.”

CTS Eventim wins race to acquire See Tickets

CTS Eventim acquired Vivendi’s festival and international ticketing businesses in a €300 million deal.

The agreement included See Tickets and a portfolio of 11 festivals including the UK’s Love Supreme and Kite, as well as Garorock in France. Vivendi concert halls including L’Olympia concert hall in Paris, plus See Tickets France and Brive Festival, are not part of the deal.

The French firm’s ticketing and festival activities acquired by CTS collectively produced €137 million in revenues in 2023.

“With See Tickets and its festival operations, Vivendi has established two notable players in the ticketing and live entertainment sector,” said CTS CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg.

“The acquisition supports our internationalisation strategy and will also benefit artists and their managers, as we will be able to offer even more seamless services on a global scale. We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues on shaping the future of live entertainment.”

DOJ sues Live Nation over alleged ‘monopoly’

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an explosive lawsuit which could seek to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster after alleging the company has violated antitrust laws.

LN and Ticketmaster, who merged in 2010, are accused of using their “power and influence” to “insert themselves at the centre and the edges of virtually every aspect of the live music ecosystem”.

The suit, which was filed in May in the United States District Court Southern District of New York, claims: “Through a self-reinforcing ‘flywheel’ that Live Nation-Ticketmaster created to connect their multiple interconnected businesses and interests, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have engaged in numerous forms of anticompetitive conduct.”

The defendants vigorously contest the claims, with the case set to go to trial in 2026.

Live Nation’s share price rocketed to an all-time high in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory in November, and the company has said it is “hopeful” the imminent administration change will have a positive impact on its antitrust battle.

Second Sphere venue location revealed

The world’s second Sphere venue is to be built in Abu Dhabi, it was revealed.

Sphere Entertainment and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi confirmed the longstanding rumours, announcing they will work together to bring the next-generation project to life in the UAE capital.

Since opening the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas, US, in September 2023, Sphere Entertainment has pursued plans to develop a global network of Sphere venues, with the expansion expected to provide “significant growth potential and drive new revenue streams”.

“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” said Sphere Entertainment executive chair and CEO James Dolan. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

The partners say the venue will be located in a “prime spot” in Abu Dhabi and echo the scale of the 20,000-cap Las Vegas original, which has so far hosted residencies by U2, Phish, Dead & Company and the Eagles’ ongoing run, as well as the Darren Aronofsky-directed immersive production Postcard from Earth.

CAA trio appointed co-heads of global touring

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced senior agents Emma Banks, Darryl Eaton and Rick Roskin as co-heads of global touring.

The trio, all long-time senior members of the firm’s leadership team, will oversee the department’s continued international growth and build upon the work of predecessor Rob Light, who was named CAA MD earlier in the year after a quarter of a century as head of global touring.

“With the most talented team of agents ever at one agency, and serving the most influential artists in the world, we see unlimited opportunities ahead,” said Roskin, Eaton and Banks. “The live business has never been stronger nor had more momentum, and artists have never had more ways to express themselves and grow their careers, making this an absolutely incredible time to help chart CAA’s path for the future.

“We’re fortunate to have shared in the success, stability and uniquely strong culture that the department has enjoyed under Rob’s outstanding leadership. Our vision, and commitment moving forward, is to foster cutting-edge ideas that drive the market and ensure that CAA remains the most exciting and empowering agency for the industry’s best agents and artists to thrive.”

Live legends remembered

SJM Concerts director Chris York, one of the UK’s leading and most respected promoters, died in July aged 55 following a long illness.

Over the course of 30 years, York worked with artists including Oasis, Foo Fighters, Green Day, The Chemical Brothers, Lily Allen, Massive Attack, Robert Plant, Underworld, Lorde, Morrissey, Placebo, Suede and Stereophonics.

In a statement, SJM said it was “deeply saddened” at news of his passing. York joined the Manchester-based company in 1993, forming a “solid and unshakeable partnership and friendship” with founder Simon Moran.

“We have lost a leader, a mentor a force of nature and a friend,” said the firm. “His loss will be felt keenly by all the staff at the company and by many industry professionals and artists around the world. His influence and personality will live forever within SJM Concerts.”

The music world also lost Mean Fiddler founder and festival pioneer Vince Power in March, aged 76. The Irish promoter helped change the face of the music industry, working across festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Phoenix, The Fleadh, Madstock and Spain’s Benicassim,

Power opened the Mean Fiddler venue in Harlesden, London, in 1982, which formed the springboard for his Mean Fiddler Group empire.

“Vince’s passing is a massive loss to the music industry and to me personally,” said Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn. “A visionary with a willingness to take risks to enable his vision but always with a humbleness that belied his importance. We had an amazing 20 years together that helped shape the music industry as we know it now.”

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Two new dates have been added to Afterlife presents Anyma ‘The End of Gensys’ Live at the Sphere in Las Vegas due to “overwhelming demand”.

Anyma, the solo project of acclaimed American DJ and producer Matteo Milleri, will perform on December 29, 30 and 31 (New Year’s Eve) at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue.

The trio of Live Nation-promoted dates will see the DJ perform his critically acclaimed albums Genesys and Genesys II for the last time, having played it for tens of thousands of people at venues in Asia, Europe and South America.

The concerts will also showcase “a meticulously curated selection of music and visual art” by Afterlife (the record label co-founded by Milleri) in collaboration with digital artists and directors such as Alessio De Vecchi, Tobias Gremmler and Alexander Wessley.

Ticket prices for the new events will be the same as the NYE show, with the general on sale starting 23 July and a presale happening on 22 July.

The stint will see Anyma become the first electronic act to perform at the $2.3 billion next-generation venue

The stint will see Anyma become the first electronic act to perform at the $2.3 billion next-generation venue following residencies from Dead & Company, Phish and U2.

In other news, The Eagles this week extended their 2025 residency at the Sphere by four additional shows. The group now has 20 shows scheduled over ten weekends from September into January 2025.

The Sphere launched in September 2023 with the 40-night U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency.

In May, parent company Sphere Entertainment Co reported that the venue generated revenue of $170.4 million in its fiscal third quarter ending 31 March.

During the earnings call, Sphere Entertainment boss Jim Dolan revealed that talks are ongoing with “several” markets about constructing a second Sphere venue.

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The Eagles have confirmed their long-rumoured residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

The American band will play eight shows over four weekends this autumn, offering fans “the ultimate connection to the band’s legendary catalogue in an immersive experience that only Sphere can provide”.

The shows will take place on 20-21 & 27-28 September and 11-12 & 18-19 October.

Tickets start at $175 and will reflect all-in pricing, while Vibee packages include a two-night stay at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas with guests receiving priority entry to Sphere, commemorative keepsakes, and access to a fan experience.  Limited VIP Ticket Packages will also be available.

“We will never have an act play the Sphere that doesn’t have something compelling up on the screen”

The next-generation $2.3 billion Sphere launched in September 2023 with the 40-night U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency, followed by a four-show stint by Phish last month. Dead & Company recently added six shows to their Dead Forever – Live at Sphere run at the 20,000-cap venue due to “increased demand” to take their total number of dates to 30.

“Every time an act books the Sphere, they have to create content around it,” said Sphere Entertainment boss Jim Dolan during the company’s most recent earnings call. “We will never have an act play the Sphere that doesn’t have something compelling up on the screen. It takes a while to do that, so we’re being too judicious about it. But the more an act plays the Sphere, like U2, the more they can monetise the content across multiple shows and therefore invest more on the content and create an even better show.”

The Eagles recently wrapped up a five-night UK stint at Manchester’s new Co-op Live as part of their Long Goodbye farewell tour and will perform a European stadium date with their first of two dates at Arnhem’s GelreDome in the Netherlands tonight (13 June).

The group, who are represented by manager Irving Azoff, revealed their plans to bring the curtain down on their 52-year career with one final tour last summer, beginning last September at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The tour is expected to continue into 2025, as “the band will perform as many shows in each market as their audience demands”.

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Madison Square Garden (MSG) boss James Dolan is reported to be in “serious talks” to build a second Sphere venue – this time in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the New York Post, Dolan is in discussions with Abu Dhabi investors about building a replica of the $2.3 billion, 20,000-cap Las Vegas Sphere, which would become MSG’s first property outside of the US.

“These are serious talks with Abu Dhabi. They keep going back and forth,” a source told The Post.

A Sphere spokesperson declined to comment on the report, which noted that the UAE capital has emerged as a frontrunner after negotiations apparently stalled with Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

The UAE’s second most populous city after Dubai, Abu Dhabi gained the 18,000-cap Etihad Arena in 2021, which has upcoming shows with the likes of Andre Rieu and Scorpions.

Wireless Festival, meanwhile, attracted 25,000 fans to Etihad Park on Yas Island for its Abu Dhabi debut in March, while November’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s Yasalam After-Race Concerts starred Foo Fighters, Shania Twain, Tiësto, Chris Brown and Ava Max.

The brainchild of Dolan, the futuristic Sphere features a 160,000 sq. foot LED display inside the main venue, which wraps up, over and around the audience for a fully immersive experience in cutting-edge 16K x 16K resolution. The concept launched in Las Vegas at the end of September with the 40-night U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency, which runs until March 2024.

American rock band Phish are the next major act to be confirmed and will deliver a four-show run from 18-21 April, while the Post reported last month that Beyoncé was in talks over a potential residency, with Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga also rumoured to be in consideration.

Sphere Entertainment said it was focusing on the “many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities”

Speaking to Variety earlier this year, MSG executive chair and CEO Dolan said it was “definitely a big part of the business plan, to build more Spheres all over the world”. “And by the way, different-size ones too – probably not much bigger than the one in Vegas, but we’ve actually gone through already architectural drawings and designs for smaller Spheres for smaller markets,” he added.

However, Sphere Entertainment said last month that it was focusing on the “many forward-thinking cities… eager to bring this technology to their communities” after its long-held plans for a 21,500-cap London spin-off were refused.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected the proposals on the basis they “would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”, but levelling-up secretary Michael Gove has since ordered a six-week pause as he considers whether to call in the application for the development.

In a broadside at Khan, a Sphere spokesperson alleged “the entire five-year planning process was hijacked by the Mayor and his bogus last-minute report”.

“Londoners should be dismayed that they are not going to benefit from this groundbreaking project, and others looking to invest in London should certainly be wary,” continued the statement. “Moreso, everyone should be alarmed by how easily the government’s established process was tossed aside by one politically motivated official.

“Mr Gove’s action, although commendable, still appears to us to be more of the same, and we cannot continue to participate in a process that can be so easily undermined by political winds. As we said previously, we will focus on the many forward-thinking cities.”

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The inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix will kick off with a star-studded showcase, featuring artists including J Balvin, Journey, Keith Urban, and Steve Aoki.

Set for Wednesday, 15 November, the jam-packed event will precede the first-ever Vegas GP weekend. The opening ceremony will span seven stages and include performances from will.i.am, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Bishop Briggs, Swedish House Mafia, along with appearances by the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.

“It was important for us to create an opening ceremony that balances the spirit of Las Vegas with the global excitement that Formula 1 and these incredible drivers bring to each host city,” says Renee Wilm, Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. CEO.

The opening ceremony is expected to garner 30,000 attendees, will be broadcast nationally, and will be streamed globally on F1’s YouTube channel. An estimated 300,000 people will attend the maiden three-day event in Nevada.

“We are proud to be able to work with the very best in the entertainment production space”

“We are proud to be able to work with the very best in the entertainment production space to offer one of the most diverse line-ups of beloved musical superstars, which will officially launch the race week festivities,” says Wilm.

The Wednesday celebration adds to the F1 weekend’s entertainment lineup, with performances from Mark Ronson, Kylie Minogue, Nile Rogers & Chic, and Major Lazer to take place at the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere. The track will encircle the new 18,600-cap MSG venue, which will have a dedicated fan zone during the event weekend.

Breaking from the traditional weekend calendar, the race will take place on the evening of Saturday (18 November) instead of the Sunday. The third race held in the US this year, following races in Miami and Austin, the Las Vegas GP will transform the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard into a high-impact race course.

Expected to be “one of the biggest sporting events of the year”, according to F1, the flurry of entertainment corresponds with a new venue boom in Sin City.

The $2.3bn Sphere, which opened in September, will see U2 play 11 more dates during their U2:UV Achtung Baby residency. Additionally, the new luxury resort Fontainebleau will launch its intimate 3,600-cap BleauLive Theatre with two nights from Post Malone later this year.

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U2 have added a further five dates to their U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency after receiving more than one million ticket requests for the shows.

The run will launch Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment’s 17,500-seat/20,000-cap Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas venue in September.

The Irish group initially announced five nights from 29-30 September and 5, 7-8 October, before confirming an additional seven (11, 13-14, 18, 20-21 and 25 October). Now, Sphere Entertainment and Live Nation have revealed five more dates – 27-28 October and 1, 3-4 November – bringing the total number of concerts to 17.

Tickets start at US$140 (€127) and will reflect all-in pricing. Promoters say the larger capacity allows for 60% of tickets to be priced under $300, while there will also be a limited number of premium priced tickets per show.

Based around U2’s classic 1991 album Achtung Baby, the series will be the band’s first live shows since The Joshua Tree 30th anniversary stadium tour, which was seen by 3.28 million fans worldwide from 2017-19 and grossed US$390.8 million.

The $2.18 billion Sphere is a “next-generation entertainment medium” that promises to “redefine the future of live entertainment”. It will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, and also boasts Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies.

“There’s nothing else like it in the world and won’t be for many, many years”

“The idea behind U2 is always to make the worst seat in the house the best seat in the house,” Bono told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “This changes the whole dynamic on that. Most music venues [bigger than theatres] are sports venues. They’re built for sports, they’re not built for music. They’re not built for art. So this building was built for immersive experience in cinema and performance. You can’t come here for an ice hockey game.”

“The sound has been designed as a priority from the beginning,” added The Edge. “There’s nothing else like it in the world and won’t be for many, many years. I think the truth is that depending where you are in the venue, you will get your own very unique show.”

The pair also commented on the possibility of their residency expanding further still.

“I don’t know,” said Bono. “We’ll have to see if we like this. We’ll have to see if our audience love this. I think it’s going to be hard to get us out of here. We’re not touring Achtung Baby anyway. With The Joshua Tree, we took that album around the world. This will only be here.”

“Don’t forget it’s 18,000 to 20,000 people a night so you’re not going to be doing 100 shows,” noted The Edge. “I mean, it’s impossible.”

Last week, MSG announced “Sphere Experiences” as part of its opening programming at MSG Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The concept will launch this October with a “first-of-its-kind” immersive production Postcard from Earth.

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