July 6, 2023
Largest LED Screen on Earth Lights Up Las Vegas
The Exosphere wows with a colossal display of advanced LED lighting technology
LAS VEGAS – In a stunning display of LED artistry, Sphere, the next-generation entertainment medium, illuminated the Las Vegas skyline with its groundbreaking Exosphere on July 4, 2023. The Exosphere, Sphere's fully-programmable LED exterior, became the largest LED screen on Earth, offering an unparalleled canvas for artists, partners, and brands to showcase impactful content to audiences worldwide.
The grand unveiling of the Exosphere, which spans an impressive 580,000 square feet, took place during a special Fourth of July show. The evening commenced with a warm welcome message, "Hello World," followed by a spectacular showcase of fireworks and animated stars and stripes. The visuals then seamlessly transitioned through a diverse range of captivating content, including vibrant underwater scenes, mesmerizing performances, and vividly-textured lunar surfaces, demonstrating the limitless possibilities of this extraordinary canvas.
No Repeatable Items Entered.
All photos and video credit to Sphere Entertainment
According to Dezeen, the building is designed by Populous, its screen has been developed by immersive content studio Sphere Studio with LED specialist SACO Technologies. The Fourth of July display was developed by Sphere Studios' in-house creative team.
It is one of two sphere-shaped venues designed by Populous, with the second planned for Stratford in east London. However, this venue has proven to be controversial and was placed on hold by UK housing secretary Michael Gove earlier this year.
"The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard—it is living architecture, unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world," commented Guy Barnett, SVP Brand Strategy and Creative Development. "Last night's show provided a glimpse of the Exosphere's captivating power and the possibilities for artists, partners, and brands to create compelling and impactful stories to connect with audiences in new ways."
QUICK FACTS:
Size & Structure: Sphere is the world's largest spherical structure, standing 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide.
Exterior LED Display: The Sphere features a fully programmable LED exterior (Exosphere) covering 580,000 square feet, capable of displaying 256 million colors on the skyline.
Design team: The Sphere is designed by global architcture firm, Populous. Its screen has been developed by immersive content studio Sphere Studio with LED specialist SACO Technologies
Capacity: The venue can accommodate up to 17,600 people seated or up to 20,000 with standing room.
Sphere Immersive Sound: The venue hosts the world's largest beamforming audio system, delivering crystal-clear audio to every guest regardless of the event's size or type.
Immersive Display Plane: Sphere boasts the highest resolution LED screen on earth with a 16K x 16K resolution. This wraps up, over, and around the audience for a fully-immersive visual environment.
Hyper-Connectivity: The venue's connectivity allows for a broader range of content and greater interaction, delivering over 25 megabits per second for every guest.
4D Technologies: Enhancing storytelling through the use of 10,000 immersive seats with an infrasound haptic system, guests can "feel" the experience. Other environmental effects like changing temperatures and familiar scents stimulate the senses.
Location: Sphere is located just one block from the Las Vegas Strip and directly connected to the Venetian Expo.
Luxurious Amenities: The venue features luxurious seating and hospitality offerings, 23 VIP suites, and other clubs. The strategic hospitality partner is the TAO Group.
Opening Date: Sphere is scheduled to open in September 2023.
David Hopkinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of MSG Sports, shared his excitement about the Exosphere's potential, stating, "Sphere's Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world, offering our partners an unparalleled opportunity to become part of the greatest show on Earth. There's nothing comparable to the impact from displaying innovative brand and immersive content on the world's largest video screen. The extraordinary experiences we can create are only limited by imagination, and we're thrilled to finally share with the world the spectacular potential of the Exosphere."
The Exosphere comprises approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, arranged eight inches apart. Each puck features 48 individual LED diodes, capable of displaying a staggering 256 million different colors, resulting in a visually stunning addition to the Las Vegas skyline.
This Fourth of July extravaganza was just the beginning for the Exosphere. The screen will continue to showcase creative activations in conjunction with major events in Las Vegas. Additionally, it will be prominently featured during Sphere's opening in September, with the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere event, and in October during the first Sphere Experience, Postcard from Earth, directed by Darren Aronofsky.
In November, during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the Exosphere will captivate a global audience through live broadcasts and planned takeovers of the screen for race-related content, activations, and advertising. Ultimately, the Exosphere will display a wide range of artistic and branded content daily, including sunrise and sunset rituals, impactful brand campaigns, and delightful moments at scheduled times.
The Exosphere's development was a collaborative effort by Sphere Studios, an immersive content studio dedicated to creating live entertainment experiences exclusively for Sphere, and SACO Technologies, an industry leader in solid-state LED video lighting and media solutions. The Studios team also partnered with 7thSense, a creative software and technology company specializing in media-based attractions, to deliver programming onto the Exosphere using advanced media server, pixel processing, and show control technologies. The Fourth of July show's content was designed and developed by Sphere Studios' experienced in-house Creative Services team.
Sphere is set to revolutionize the future of live entertainment by providing extraordinary experiences that transport audiences to both real and imagined places. With its cutting-edge technologies, the first Sphere venue, currently under construction in Las Vegas, is expected to open in September 2023. As a new Las Vegas landmark, Sphere will host original Sphere Experiences from renowned Hollywood directors, concerts and residencies from top artists
All photos and video credit to Sphere Entertainment
