On Sunday, Sphere Entertainment, the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies announced plans for a new Sphere venue at National Harbor, Maryland. If built, this will be the second Sphere in the U.S. and the first smaller-scale Sphere.

Developers Peterson Companies, a large privately-owned real estate developer in the Washington, D.C. region, expect to come from public and private sources, including about $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. The project estimates the venue’s economic impact to exceed $1 billion annually, with the project generating about 2,500 temporary construction jobs and 4,750 permanent jobs.

According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, this will be one of the largest economic development projects in the county.

Local officials see a year-round Sphere venue at National Harbor boosting a destination attracting close to 15 million visitors annually. The destination's main hotel properties are the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, a non-gaming resort opened in 2008, and the MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort debuted in 2016.

Smaller Scale, Global Ambitions

Sphere National Harbor is planned as the first smaller-scale Sphere with a 6,000-seat capacity. The existing Las Vegas venue can accommodate 20,000, just like the future Abu Dhabi venue, announced in October last year.

The smaller venue design incorporates all the Vegas venue's advanced technologies, including a 16K x 16K resolution interior display, immersive sound, haptic seating, and 4D environmental effects.

Sphere Entertainment is aiming for global network of venues and the smaller-scale design may make the investment more desirable for other destinations. “Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment.

In November 2023, just two months after the Sphere’s opening in Las Vegas, the company scrapped plans for a full-sized venue in London. After acquiring the site and spending five years planning London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected the plans due to residents’ concerns over light pollution.

The Sphere at National Harbor depends on agreements, approvals, and incentives from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.